West End - Issue 73

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February - Mid Mar 2013 Issue 73 - Free magazine

Rhodesian Ridgebacks for Sale Motoring: Landrover Freelander Travel: Discover Tunis Gardening: A passion for potatoes

A note from Sue...

Let’s give a big, warm welcome to the year 2013.

Is this the year that we can claw our way out of the recession? I do hope so. It is quite frightening seeing big named stores having to close their doors. So let’s try not to lose any of our unique, independent shops. They are the mainstay of the community and right on your doorstep. They offer unusual and affordable items for you to buy locally sourced groceries also workshops and classes and a friendly smile and a bit of chat when you go to visit!

Brimming with great entertainment for February and beyond check list of shows appearing at HMT; Lemont Tree lounge: Musica Hall and Woodend Barn. There is something for every age range.

If you have a holiday cottage, villa, flat that you rent out then why not give us the opportunity to advertise it to local people.

The magazine is now six weekly, I’m hoping this new pace will make my life less rushed. But I’ll keep you posted.

Anyway – go re-fill your cuppa and enjoy the rest of the magazine.

I have finally got round to reporting on my visit to Banchory for my Body Mot I do hope you enjoy reading it and maybe be inspired to treat yourself.

February is full of romance; pancakes and Chinese New Year enjoy celebrating all three! The Fourmile Restaurant is offering a 20% discount off your food bill on a Monday-Thursday so definitely worth cutting out and enjoying a treat. Kumiko Beauty and Skincare Clinic have £10 off electrolysis for new customers.

Our next copy deadline for articles and advertisers is 01 March – delivery from 13 March.

Until the next issue, Sue Issue 74 (mid-March-April) copy deadline is 01 March.

PS: Any last minute events, local news, what’s on etc I will try and put onto our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/gazettemagazines

Ad-hoc contributions from : Helen Taylor; James Baggott; Pippa Greenwood; Jane Robinson and Amanda Wise Advertising Sales : Sue Simpson : 01224 - 318561 Distribution - thanks to : Mark; Sue; Carol; Caroline; Gregor; Jodi; Cameron; Kate; Sarah; Fraser; Laura; Freya; David; Maureen & Raymond; Vanessa; Lauren; Sophie; Sharon; Mary; Rebecca; Benjamin; Adam; Glenn; Kate; Alix; Connor; Carter; Laura & Molly

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. www.thegranitecitygazette.co.uk

deadline : 01 March - Mid Mar-April 2013 issue

publisher/owner : Sue Simpson

All enquiries :

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Disclaimer :

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West End gazette

delivered to :

12000 West End Homes

going thru the letterbox in Airyhall, Ashley, Bieldside, Braeside, Broomhill, Countesswells, Craigiebuckler, Cults, Holburn, Kepplestone Houses, Mannofield, Morningside, Queens Cross, Rubislaw, Seafield, Viewfield, Woodland at Pitfodels, Woodend

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My name is Zola, I am a Rhodesian Ridgeback

and these are my beautiful pups Zola has a fantastic temperament which is paramount and Apollo (the stud) is an ideal partner as he too has an excellent nature, living with a family of four small children.

Both parents have been Hip Scored and are well below the breed average which is currently 11. They are KC registered and vet checked and had their first vaccination on 16th January. The price is ÂŁ650. Contact Kenny and Dorothy on 07711 120 217 or 01224-316898 thanks.

www.emmadavidsonphotography.co.uk

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3

More than just good manners For most of us, saying ‘thank you’ is an everyday occurrence and, face to face at least, the words often trip out of our mouths more out of habit than with genuine meaning.

In today’s fast paced world however, far more of our communication is by email, text, phone or social media, and taking the time to acknowledge others’ actions is being overlooked.

But expressing your appreciation has a very important psychological role to play for both the person giving and the person receiving.

Gratitude is more than just good manners; it reassures others that their help was actually valued and it encourages further reciprocal behaviour. Indeed missing this important step can cause resentment and people can feel snubbed by what may have just been an oversight.

You would think that if you’d asked a favour of someone, asking for a second favour would make them feel you

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were asking too much.

However, if you’ve clearly and personally thanked the giver the first time, they’ll feel good about themselves and towards you, and will be more than willing to help again.

Taking the time to tell someone you appreciate their efforts is also beneficial for you. A bit like if you donate to charity you are doing it to benefit others, but you come away feeling positive about yourself and your efforts.

Giving feels good.

The message does have to be commensurate with the act though. A dismissive ‘thanks’ to a reasonable favour won’t cut it. But a gushing ‘thank you so much, I really do appreciate your help, you are so kind’ to a minor act will sound false and lose its value. But wherever you can, include the person’s name in your message as that’s further endorsement of them as an individual.

Also not all ‘thank yous’ are equal. Ask anyone under the age of 16 to produce a handwritten letter to be sent in the post, and their reaction is likely to be ‘why’? After all, there’s the phone, texting and

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email – much quicker and easier. But actually that’s just the point; such methods are so much easier they don’t hold as much weight to the recipient.

Receiving a letter in the post, with its air of mystery as it lands on the mat, the tangible piece of paper and the very personal handwriting means so much more. It is also much more memorable than a text or email which is instantly forgotten.

Not that phone, text and email should be dismissed of course, especially to acknowledge someone you are unlikely to come in contact with again.

Better that method than not at all.

There are nominated days to show thanks to your nearest and dearest, with birthdays, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and even Valentine’s Day for your ‘significant other’. Again with busy lives, many view having to acknowledge these times as an inconvenience. But put yourself in the other person’s shoes: everyone around them is being appreciated on these occasions, and they want to feel that they are valued by their friends and family too.

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Find the Hair Colour That’s Perfect for You

By Helen Taylor

consider before you reach for the hair dye.

Start with Your Skin Tone

They say that blondes have more fun, but whatever your hair colour you’re sure to look and feel fabulous if you find the shade that’s right for you.

We all love to try out something different once in a while and there’s no better way to create a fresh look than with a change to your hair colour.

A new hue can take years off your age, emphasise your best features and leave your complexion looking radiant.

It’s crucial to get it right though, because if you pick the wrong colour you can be left with an unflattering and disappointing result.

Your hair is undoubtedly your best accessory, so it’s crucial to think carefully before doing anything drastic or making a hasty change.

Here’s our guide to what to

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Whether you fancy being a blonde, brunette or redhead, it’s important to identify whether your natural complexion is warm or cool. This determines what colour base you should look for when you pick your shade.

To find out which category you fall into, try this simple test: Stand in front of a mirror in natural light with no makeup on. Hold a white garment by your face, then do the same with a cream coloured one. Decide which looks better with your colouring, does the white enhance your eyes and skin? If so, you’re cool. If the cream looks best, then you’re warm.

Consider your jewellery; does gold suit you better than silver? If so, your skin tone is warm. If silver looks stunning, then you’re cool.

Cool Colours If your skin colouring is cool, you should choose an

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ash, mink or even platinum blonde shade if you fancy a blonde hue.

Brunette colours with an ashy base work best with cool skins. Think coffee coloured browns, medium brown with ashy highlights or even black.

Stick to burgundy, mahogany and purple based reds - they will look fabulous with your skin.

Warm Colours If you have warm colouring, then you’ll look great with golden blonde colours and caramel highlights.

For brunettes, choose chestnut or golden browns with warm tones for a stunning look.

If you fancy standing out from the crowd with vibrant red locks, go for copper and auburn shades. Any red with a golden or orange base colour works well.

Have a Good Hair Day We’ve all had our fair share of hair disasters over the years and one of the main causes is changing our hair colour at home.

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Image credit: Paul Mitchell than two shades lighter or darker than your natural hair colour, then it really is essential that you visit a salon to have your hair done professionally.

Remember that many colours bought for home use won’t necessarily look the same on your hair as they do on the box. If you have been dying your hair a dark shade for a long time there may be a build-up of colour on the lengths that could leave you with uneven results.

Blonde hues are very fashionable at the moment

but lightening dark hair can be damaging. Invest in a good conditioner and have a toner standing by in case your at-home highlights turn out looking brassy.

Red hair colours are great but they have a tendency to fade quickly, so be prepared to find the

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time and money to regularly spend on your colour.

Looking for a Relaxed atmosphere Personal attention Weddings our speciality

Tel : 322000 Devonair Hairstylists 2 Devonshire Road Aberdeen (off St Swithin St)

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Electrolysis: the use

conscious or even quite distressed when they make their first consultation for electrolysis.

of an electric current applied through a needle to remove body hair for cosmetic purposes.

Unwanted facial and body hair is a common problem affecting as many as 80% of ladies in varying degrees. Most areas can be permanently cleared of unwanted hairs with electrolysis including hair on the upper/ lower lip, chin, cheeks, neck, chest, abdomen, underarms, bikini line and the eyebrows.

The majority of clients will be happy, well balanced people, with hair growth concerns that are purely ‘cosmetic’; others may be self-

• Mechanical Stimulation: Plucking, (including waxing, threading, sugaring), abrasion.

•

"Research shows that there is more scientific evidence for Hypnotherapy than any other Complementary Therapy... by using hypnosis people can perform prodigious feats of will-power and self-healing."

The Health Education Authority

Abnormal Systemic: Hormone influencing medication i.e. steroids, contraceptive pill and hormone replacement therapy (HRT), fertility drugs.

• Disease eg endocrine disorders affecting hormonal secretions from the glands of the body.

• Operations eg hysterectomy, removal of ovaries.

Sam Luxford RGN RMN DHP HPD MNCH(Reg) CNHC Registered Therapist Solution Focused Clinical Hypnotherapist & Psychotherapist Fully qualified and Accredited

23 Rubislaw Den North Aberdeen, AB154AL M: 07867 936 505 T: 01224-329089 sam@aberdeenhypnotherapy.com www.aberdeenhypnotherapy.com www.thegranitecitygazette.co.uk

Causes of hair growth:

• Normal Systemic: Puberty, pregnancy, menopause, i.e.times of normal hormonal changes in the body.

Moving from problem to solution - Making Positive Changes using Brain Based Solution Focused Hypnotherapy

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I frequently encounter the perceived problem of hirsutism (male pattern hair growth on females) and can offer helpful and objective advice and information to the client. In some cases, where I feel there may be some abnormal systemic condition, I will refer the client to their GP, who in turn, may make a referral to a specialist. But, in the vast majority of cases, if there is no underlying medical pathology treatment at my centre is the usual outcome.

The advice and treatment offered should be sufficient to resolve any normal problem, and the result is usually a restored sense of confidence and wellbeing in the client.

• Stress (may only stimulate hair growth when severe and subsequently triggers hormonal imbalance eg anorexia.

Electrolysis is the only proven method of permanent hair removal of unwanted hair, having been around since 1875.

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Unwanted Facial and Body Hair - solution below Unwanted facial and body hair is a common problem affecting as many as 80% of ladies in varying degrees Electrolysis is the only proven method for permanent removal of unwanted hair.

Hair can be permanently removed from : • • • • • • • • •

upper/lower lip chin cheeks neck chest abdomen underarms bikini eyebrows

Bring along this voucher and receive £10 off your 1st Electrolysis treatment Valid until 15 March 2013. May not be combined with any other promotions. One voucher per client. New customers only.

As a former nurse and an electrolysis specialist, with over 10 years experience, using a fully computerised system why not ...

Book a FREE consultation with Jenny and get started on your hair free programme TODAY! For further info/to book an appointment call : 01224 594777 (quote voucher WG02-13)

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Secrets and Lies It’s February and the world is set to go into romance overload. But what about those relationships Hallmark doesn’t make a card for: the mistresses, the bits on the side and the forbidden loves? We’ve put together a selection of both classic and contemporary scandals so you can live vicariously through them…unless you have something you want to come clean about?

Lady Chatterley’s Lover D.H.Lawrence Long before Desperate Housewives, people were having affairs with their gardeners. Constance Chatterley’s husband lies paralysed after a war injury and as she struggles with both the emotional and physical neglect, her head is turned by one Oliver Mellors. And boy, must he be good. The novel tackles the relationship between the upper and working classes as well as the battle between the body and mind. For a book written in the 1920s, it’s pretty explicit, making it a favourite of students forced to read Lawrence the world over.

Notes on a Scandal Zoë Heller Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. When Sheba the new

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comprehensive school art teacher embarks on an affair with an underage boy, she has only sixty-something year old fellow teacher Barbara to confide in. Barbara relishes the close friendship that has been established between the two of them, but it takes a sinister turn when she discovers the truth about the boy.

Getting Rid of Matthew Jane Fallon No one ever leaves their wife for their mistress.

Do they?

What happens when the excitement and thrill of a fling turn up on your doorstep and you’re instantly plunged into domesticity? The answer is simple: start operation Getting Rid Of Matthew. This involves making yourself as undesirable as possible. There are unexpected twists and turns for Helen who really needs to learn to be careful what she wishes for.

Madame Bovary Gustave Flaubert Doctor’s wife, Emma Bovary leads an increasingly scandalous and yet, in her eyes, eternally boring life as she tries to escape the confines of her provincial existence. Trapped in a dull marriage and dreaming of passion, excitement and fulfilment, she finds that real life never fails to fall short of her great expectations. The book caused absolute outrage when it was first published,

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though there was no shortage of women claiming to be Madame Bovary. Gustave always maintained he based the character on himself…but there were obviously a LOT of bored French housewives in the nineteenth century.

The Bride Stripped Bare Nikki Gemmell This is the story of an awakening of epic proportions. Why work in shades of grey when you can live your own life by your own rules in glorious Technicolor? A husband reveals a secret on his honeymoon, giving his wife the strength and the freedom to finally go after what she wants and desires...in the form of an inexperienced suitor.

The Post Birthday World Lionel Shriver Affairs are usually referred to as ‘ill-fated’ and invariably it all ends in tears. Here’s a novel that starts with a kiss, or not, and then runs in two parallel stories. It’s the thinking man/ woman’s Sliding Doors. Irina McGovern could lean in and kiss the rough around the edges, snooker-playing Ramsay, or she could choose not to and to remain faithful to her straightlaced partner, Lawrence. If we could see the repercussions of our actions, would we take that chance and steal a moment with someone? The book is about human relationships and how we’re all flawed. So basically, it’s damned if you do and…you get the picture.

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wishes you a ... ay D s ’ e n i t n e l a V y Happ Old Skene Road, Kingswells, Aberdeen, AB15 8QA Tel. 01224 740318 Email. info@fourmile.co.uk

www.fourmile.co.uk

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Your lunch or dinner food bill, Monday to Thursday in February 2013.

Voucher can be used once only, and only one voucher per table.

-voucher cannot be exchanged for cash - Valid until March 1st 2013

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Code: AG

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The Language of Flowers Lots of men will be heading off to florists this month but have you ever wondered why we give flowers?

The Victorians were a rather coy bunch not given to brazen declarations of love, so a whole language sprang up around flowers and plants with special meanings attached to each variety. The language was called floriography. So flowers could be used to express almost any sentiment and in combination they could convey a whole range of emotions.

Try saying it with flowers this Valentine’s Day with our handy guide.

Flower meanings

Red rose - Passionate love

White rose - Eternal love or innocence Pink rose - Perfect happiness or please believe me Orchid - Love, beauty and refinement Apple Blossom - Preference, good fortune Begonia - Beware!

Bluebell - Humility Pink carnation - I’ll never forget you Yellow carnation - Disdain, rejection Iris - Faith hope and wisdom Ivy - Fidelity Primrose - I can’t live without you or young love

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By Sarah Davey

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Hotel tel. 01224 861000 Spa tel. 01224 865928 www.marcliffe.com North Deeside Road, Pitfodels, Aberdeen AB15 9YA

Both Establishments Owned by The Spence Family.

THE

BROADSTRAIK INN

tel. 01224 743217 e. enquiries@broadstraikinn.co.uk www.broadstraikinn.co.uk Elrick, Westhill, Aberdeenshire AB32 6TL

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Choosing fabrics for the home Feature: Katherine Sorrell

Patterned, textured or plain, subtle or spectacular, fabrics can transform a room.

Our guide will help you sort the silks from the synthetics and the cottons from the corduroys, while giving you the lowdown on what to use where.

How to choose fabrics Before buying fabric, ask for a swatch or, even better, borrow or buy a length of fabric that can be draped at the window or placed over a sofa or cushion.

It is invaluable to see how the fabric looks in situ, at different times of the day and night. Ask these questions before you start: • How wide is the fabric? The wider it is, the better the value, and the less sewing will be required.

140cm is average.

• How heavy is it? Heavier fabrics are usually too bulky for small projects, while lighter fabrics usually wear more quickly.

• How durable is it? Fabric is divided into categories depending on whether it will be subjected to light, general or heavy domestic use.

• Is it washable? And, if so, has it been pre-shrunk?

• If it is patterned, what size is the repeat? Large patterns require more fabric so that you can match the repeats.

Types of fabric Fabrics are composed of natural or synthetic fibres, or blends of them, and made using a wide variety of weaves.

Wool is breathable, warm and naturally water-resistant. Available in a wide range of thicknesses and textures, it varies from heavy sheep’s wool to fine cashmere. It will felt if washed at a high temperature.

Weaves

Bouclé has a looped pile.

Corduroy features pile in stripes that may be narrow or wide.

Damasks contrast matt and shiny areas of pattern and are usually rather traditional in style.

Jacquards feature a complex, raised pattern.

Moiré is a water-mark pattern, often found on silks.

Plain weaves have a smooth surface.

Satin is heavy with a lustrous surface, usually made from silk or polyester.

Twill weave produces diagonal or zig zag lines on the surface. Denim is a heavycotton twill, for example.

Velvet may be made from a variety of fibres and features a luxurious, soft pile.

Fibres Cotton can range from lightweight muslin to heavy canvas. It is the most commonly used fabric for home furnishings as it dyes and prints well, and is easy to care for.

Linen has a lovely drape and lustre, is durable, but has a tendency to crease (hence is often mixed with other fibres).

Nylon, or polyamide, is tough and resists abrasion, but tends to produce static electricity.

Polyester is a very strong synthetic fibre that mixes well with other fibres to produce versatile fabrics. It can withstand high temperatures and frequent washing.

Silk comes in intense colours and has an attractive, lustrous surface. Not as hard-wearing as other fibres.

Viscose is made from wood pulp. It is hard-wearing and durable.

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What to use where Upholstery

• Hard-wearing, tightly woven fabrics are best for most upholstery. Medium-to heavy-weight cottons and cotton mixes, linen mixes and wools are all good, conventional choices, while corduroy, denim and low-pile velvet are interesting as well as usable.

• Avoid deep piles, which may become crushed, and loose or loopy weaves, which are likely to snag.

• Bold motifs should usually be centred on sofa or chair backs. You will need to buy more fabric to ensure everything fits in the right place. t : 01224 - 318561

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Loose Covers

• Choose a fabric that is washable and substantial enough to hold its shape yet soft enough to be comfortable: mediumweight cottons, linens or blends, or light wools are all ideal.

Curtains

• Curtains can be made of practically any fabric, from cotton and linen to velvet, silk or wool.

• As well as the conventional fabrics, consider unusual ones such as blankets, tweed, fleece, mohair, canvas or madras, or perhaps a sari, a length of vintage embroidery or a lovely chintz quilt.

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• Very thick, heavy fabrics will be too bulky for small window openings.

• Sheer fabrics will not hold a crisp fold and will allow light through.

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Cushions

Bed and Table Linen

• You could use remnants from fabric used elsewhere in the room, or choose complementary patterns and colours in a completely different fabric.

• Loose, textured and pile weaves are impractical for these purposes.

• Choose almost any fabric, within reason.

• Use expensive fabrics, as you’ll need such a small amount (use cheaper fabric for the back).

• Light to medium weight cottons, linens and cotton or linen blends are best. Avoid pure linen if you don’t like ironing.

• Choose fabrics that will withstand frequent washing • For outdoor and children’s dining, oilcloth is ideal.

The Association of Master Upholsterers and Soft Furnishers has a list of members from the North of Scotland to the South-West of England – go to www.upholsterers.co.uk.

Employ interesting fabrics cushions. These pink tartan cost £40 each from Sharp & (sharpandnoble.co.uk), whi also sell vintage and bespo upholstered furniture. ideal.

to make n ones & Noble ich oke

John Lewis makes curtains and blinds to order.

A range of fabrics from Ikea.

Cryptic Crossword 1

Across 1. Conduct some form of credit (6) 4. Fish cut up powerfully (8) 9. Get con to be convincing (6) 10. Apron info a rep used (8) 12. Former rung that’s praised (8) 13. First German weapon, look (6) 15. Loose grains found in odds and ends (4) 16. Alien to form a protective cover (7) 20. Propeller on a boat, a Roman’s invention (7) 21. Containers turned to break suddenly (4) 25. Failed turning far from home (6) 26. Move to cereal, perhaps (8) 28. Dishonest work for a builder? (3-2,3) 29. Hot stuff sounding cold! (6) 30. Tenant of a topless leader (8) 31. Dull room for an author (6) 20

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Down 1. Ace reeds bent or cut (8) 2. At origin making pasta (8) 3. A wicked light-source!

(6) 5. Eye part, a part of Sir Isaac? (4) 6. Panic Hal into becoming a padre (8) 7. Sum provided by a rise (6) 8. I go to Leeds to find this fuel (6) 11. Sadness about a code? (7)

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14. Angered in some way (7) 17. Page doll turned and ran (8) 18. Dateline somehow involved (8) 19. Greek sheep in a compound (8) 22. Prevent the progress of a picnic basket? (6) 23. A US hit about interruption (6) 24. Herb to brew for trouble (6) 27. Either way it’s midday (4) ©Puzzlepress.co.uk

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Let’s Talk Wine...

K is for Kalecik Karasi

All eye examinations covered by NHS Optical Coherence Tomography for early diagnosis of Glaucoma, Macular Degeneration and Retinal Conditions.

Digital Retinal Photography Visual Field Analysis Emergency Eye Appointments Large range of Designer frames and specialised spectacle lenses Accredited by RACH for Children’s Eye Examinations

Home Visits Free Car parking Open Late night Tuesday - 7pm & Saturday - 4pm Scott Gilmour BSc (Hons) MCOptom

5 The Courtyard, Cults, Aberdeen AB15 9SD

Telephone : 01224 - 863344 info@scottgilmouroptometrists.co.uk www.scottgilmouroptometrists.co.uk

Turkey is thought to be one of the oldest producing wine countries in the world yet its only recently that the wines have started to hit our shelves.

At a recent seminar, I was really impressed with the quality and diversity of the wines shown. Kalecik Karasi is one of a large number of indigenous Turkish grapes and produces red berry scented wines with fresh acidity and soft tannins.

Other varieties include Okuzgozu with it’s medium bodied, fresh, fruity and floral wines and the thick skinned Bogazkere which gives full bodied reds with structured tannins.

A white grape to look out for is Narince (which translates as delicate). Grown mainly in the Mideastern Anatolia region, the resulting wines have notes of citrus and peach with a fresh acidity.

Turkish wines are available in the Uk through M &S, Laithwaites, The Wine Society, Berkmann and Thierrys.

One to try…

Anfora Trio 2010 from the Pamukkale region is a blend of Kalecik Karasi, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon.

With intense aromas of dark fruit coulis and spice, it’s full bodied, structured, ripe and juicy M&S £7.49 www.winesofturkey.org has lots of information on the grapes and regions Carol Brown http://www.wineuncorkededucation.co.uk Member of the Association of Wine Educators and the Circle of Wine Writers T: 01224 312076 M: 07751 520987

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21

Aberdeen Asset Management Universities’

Boat Race 2013 Challenge

The north east’s equivalent of the annual Oxford v Cambridge Boat Race will take place on Saturday 2 March. In time honoured tradition, the losers of the 2012 race Aberdeen University challenged Robert Gordon University to race in the 2013 event.

Aberdeen University Boat Club (AUBC) team president, Ingibjorg Thomsen, met her counterpart Rachel Joyce at Robert Gordon University Boat Club (RGUBC) head on for the launch of the 2013 event. Ingibjorg is originally from the Faroe Islands and is currently studying a master’s in International Relations. Rachel who was born in Cleveland, Ohio, but whose home town is Kildare in Ireland, is continuing her studies in Diagnostic Radiography.

The race, which is approaching its 18th year, is made possible by the continued support of global investment group, Aberdeen Asset Management.

In the 17 years of the Aberdeen Boat Race, AUBC lead RGUBC by 14 wins to 3, however since RGUBC’s first win in 2006 the score is 4 : 3 to AUBC, with RGUBC winning the most recent one in March last year. The race takes place over a 3.5km stretch of the River Dee in Aberdeen between the Bridge of Dee and the Aberdeen Boat Club. In 2012, RGUBC won the race by four and a half lengths in a

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time of 8 minutes, 13.9 seconds.

Organisers of the race expect the turn-out of spectators on the day to be the most colourful ever as the universities have adopted the theme of ‘show your true colours’ for the 2013 head to head – blue and yellow for Aberdeen University and purple and black for Robert Gordon University.

“We’re asking supporters to come out on the day wearing the colours of their favourite team,” comments Ingibjørg Thomsen. “Both crews train hard for months ahead of race day and to see the banks of the river awash with our team colours will give us a huge boost.

Rachel Joyce agrees, “In the run up to the race we’re hoping that our supporters will show their true colours and register their team allegiance through social media too.”

2012 was one of the most fiercely contested races in the history of the event, and the organisers expect that 2013 will be no different. Both crews have already been training for months in preparation for the March race. Each of the 18 rowers will take

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Follow the 2013 Aberdeen Asset Universities’ Boat Race and show your true colours at

just under 300 strokes in the course of the 3.5km race and along with the crew coxes, will push their physical and mental endurance to the limit.

www.facebook.com/AAMBoatRace and at https://twitter.com/2013BoatRace.

Martin Gilbert, chief executive of Aberdeen, comments: “The race is a major event on the city’s sporting calendar and showcases the area’s young athletic talent. Each year local support for the event grows and I am confident that 2013 will see the biggest turn out of supporters ‘showing their true colours’ than ever before.”

Design

Pictured above : Left to Right Rachel Joyce and Ingibjørg Thomsen on the balcony of the Boat House to launch the 2013 Aberdeen Asset Universities’ Boat Race Picture to the Left : Left to Right Ingibjørg Thomsen and Rachel Joyce ‘face off’ inside the Boat House at the launch of the 2013 Aberdeen Asset Universities’ Boat Race

Supply

Installation

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Tunis : Where Europe Meets Africa

Tunis Barely three hours from London, Tunis greets you with scenes straight out of the Arabian Nights, plenty of Mediterranean charm and elegant French-style boulevards. Winters are mild, summers sunny and hot but cooled by sea breezes which sweep across the lakes glistening between the capital and its sandy coastline.

Fifteen miles of beaches fringe the upmarket suburbs, dotted with open spaces and clusters of pines and mimosa. You can ride a horse or a camel on the sand, swim, sail, shop for souvenirs and squeeze in a little sightseeing but the ultimate indulgence is joining the locals in a hammam, to be scrubbed lobster red from head to toe, or unwinding in a glamorous spa with the latest beauty treatment or sea water therapy, tailored to your needs. Thalassotherapy is a French legacy but comes at a fraction of the cost across the water.

Tunisia has been independent since 1956 but the New Town designed by the French retains its Parisian feel. Named after the country’s first President, the Habib Bourguiba Avenue stretches for a straight scenic mile, a mini Champs-Elysées with wide pavements and a

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central promenade where flower stalls and newspaper kiosks splash colour under the trees. It’s a place to stroll in the shade, enjoy a spot of window shopping, wonder at the cream-coloured cathedral or the rococo theatre, and sit under the parasols of Café de Paris to watch the world go by. There are trendy stores and boutiques, traditional ‘pâtisseries’ and a freestanding clock tower mirrored in the fountains. The stylish Avenue de France leads to the Sea Gate, no longer lapped by the receding waters of the lake, but marking the meeting point of two cultures, Europe on one side, Africa on the other.

Step through and within seconds, you are swept off your feet, lured relentlessly into the medina and a headspinning maze of colours and scents. In the cool alleyways of the souks, men chisel silver and gold, embroider slippers, carve wood and brass, and every stall brings new temptation. Perfumes, carpets, spices, leather belts, pottery, silk, toy camels or aphrodisiacs, you’re sure to find anything you ever wanted and more. The air smells of couscous and mint tea and the bubbling of hookah pipes follows you along the way. With its medieval bazar, its secluded mansions and minarets peeping above the rooftops, this Old Town is a World Heritage Site, claiming over 700 monuments. Visitors

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make their way to the Great Mosque, the Museum of Popular Arts and Tourbet el Bey, the mausoleum of last dynasty.

Meanwhile, across the lake, history lovers gather around the ruins of ancient Carthage, scattered like blossom in the wind from the Roman Baths to the remains of the Punic city on Byrsa Hill. For others, the Bardo Museum is the top attraction, with its stunning collection of Roman mosaics and classical statues, but artists prefer to seek inspiration in Sidi Bou Said, a pretty blue and white village with wrought iron balconies as delicate as lace. Up there on a breezy clifftop, little disturbs the peace but birds twittering in the trees. Far below, fishermen cast their nets in the Gulf of Tunis while in the distance the city stretches as far as you can see, familiar and exotic all in one, flourishing at the crossroads of Europe and Africa.

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E

Wood Glorious Wood

by Derek Thompson When I was growing up in London, my relationship with making the fire began and ended with a plug and a switch. Things are very different now; living in the West Country, where burning almost anything else would be preferable (and cheaper) to putting on the oil-fired central heating.

Logs are a bit of a science.

We’ve found oak, beech and ash to be best, in order of preference, but conifer wood does the job too if it’s properly seasoned. Our usual supplier is about five miles away and by the time we’ve unloaded his trailer and I’ve stacked the wood in the garage, I’m usually so warmed up that I try to convince Anne we can skip the fire for a day. Then I’m literally and figuratively out in the cold.

Using local and sustainable sources of wood fits in perfectly with our Better Life approach. When we lost our cypress tree, after a succession of gales split the main trunk so that I could look right through it, nothing was wasted. Even

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the smaller branches were stored and dried out for a year to make a plentiful supply of kindling. It was a sad day indeed though - not least for the chickens, who once escaped their compound and sought asylum in the upper branches, in a series of impressive short take-offs.

The previous year, our ash tree had to come down because it was pushing against a neighbour’s garage wall.

That also served us well, a year later. Even so, I never feel good about losing a tree.

Not only do our remaining trees provide an important habitat for birds and other wildlife, they also give us some privacy in the garden, so the neighbours can’t see how poorly the last of the chard is doing.

As our gradual conversion from urbanites to ruralites has progressed, we have become expert in the art of foraging for kindling. When you know where to look, just like love, it’s all around you. For example, a local farm shop often has a supply of unwanted wooden fruit boxes. We’ve also found hidden treasure in skips

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- always with the owner’s permission. And once, when our foraging fame spread, a neighbour alerted us to a pub renovation a couple of villages away, where we managed to fill the back of the car with wood that would otherwise have become landfill.

A wood merchant has occasionally furnished us with offcuts and sawdust for the chickens, in exchange for eggs, which seems a pretty good deal all round. And of course, the nearby woods are a boon. Every time there’s a gale, we’re off into the woods, rucksacks at the ready - combining exercise with recycling. I think the villagers are used to us now, although I did once hear someone singing Good King Wenceslas - the part about a poor man gathering winter fuel.

It’s less about saving a pound or two and more about being consistent in our philosophy.

There’s a certain delight in making use of something that no one else wants, whether it’s wooden offcuts, windfall or abandoned and broken pallets, especially when it also helps to reduce our fuel bills. I like to think of us as the Wombles of Wood.

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29

Land Rover has given its perennial premium compact SUV a nip and tuck for 2013 – but is it enough to keep buyers interested in the offroader? We take it for a spin in the icy wilds of snow-blown Canada.

What is it?

Land Rover’s perennial compact SUV given a little wipe over with the flannel to freshen it up. The changes aren’t huge inside or out, but they’re enough to give it a new lease of life. The talking points on the outside are some smart new headlights, new rear tail-lights that look like dumpy red snowmen, and a more striking grille. Inside it’s had more attention with an Evoque-ess makeover.

What’s under the bonnet?

There are two diesel units which are both 2.2 litres in size but with different power outputs, 147 bhp and 187 bhp, they both offer fourwheel drive. There’s also a 150PS version in two-wheel drive form, but quite why you’d opt for that we have no idea apart from its lower CO2 emissions. We tried a brilliant 2.0-litre petrol engine too on our road test in Canada, but sadly this won’t be coming to the UK. In fact, it was actually our pick of the bunch.

What’s the kit like?

It’s on the inside where the manufacturer has really gone to work. The centre console is new and the old Terrain Response dial has been swapped for buttons from the Evoque.

A new instrument cluster has been installed which has a five inch display that offers the important details. It now has keyless go, a brilliant hitch assist that helps drivers line

up their tow bar and clever voice activation.

There are three new colours to choose from paint wise and the stereo system provided by Meridian is nothing short of extravagant.

Any rivals?

There are lots, and that’s the problem. Audi Q5, BMW X3, Volvo XC60 and VW Tiguan all represent very talented and capable alternatives to the rugged Brit. All are newer than the Freelander and are tough competition to the Land Rover.

Is it any good?

If you were hoping for a whole new car, you’ll be sorely disappointed. This revision is a nip and tuck at best bringing its styling into line with the other, newer models in the range. However there’s no denying that the Freelander is extremely capable off-road – some of the terrain we tackled on the launch was positively frightening and it sailed right through it.

What’s our verdict?

The revisions inside bring the Freelander up to date, but we had rather hoped they’d have done more with the exterior. The new lights are striking, but nowhere near as bold as its sister cars which is a shame, however its capability off road can’t be doubted and despite its age we still think it’s a rugged alternative to some often rather boring Germanic offerings. It’s worth a look for the pony-pulling set.

Land Rover Freelander

The Knowledge Model: Land Rover Freelander Price: £39,805 Engine: 2.2 litre, diesel Power: 187 bhp, 420Nm Max speed: 118 mph 0-60mph: 8.7s MPG (comb’d): 40.4 Emissions: 185g/km

A Passion for Potatoes February is the time of year to think about perfect potatoes and smashing spuds so make sure you buy some seed potatoes and have them ready for planting. Home grown potatoes are an incredibly good value crop and you’ll soon find that the so-called humble spud is actually a very tasty and extremely versatile vegetable.

If you don’t have much spare space in your garden, a patio or balcony will do as a 45cm (18in) diameter pot can produce a useful crop of spuds, just from a single tuber. Make sure the container is well supplied with drainage holes (add a layer of ‘crocks’ if necessary), fill it about two thirds full of compost, pop a tuber in the centre and add a further couple of inches of compost.

As the foliage appears, add more compost to cover it over and repeat until no more can be added. Keep the container well watered, then sit back and wait. Use a bigger container, such as one of the Stewart Smithy pots and you can plant three tubers however don’t be tempted to overload your pot with too many tubers or you’ll end up with much less impressive results.

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Most potatoes produce a slightly earlier and somewhat heavier crop if the seed potatoes are allowed to ‘chit’ or produce small but sturdy sprouts before planting. Stand the tubers widest end uppermost in a seed tray or old egg carton and place these in a cool but frost free spot with plenty of natural light. After a few weeks the sprouts will be about 1cm tall, perfect for planting. Buy your seed potato tubers this month and you’ll have time to chit them before planting.

What to Grow: Different potatoes have different issues in the kitchen and whilst I have my favourite, the new potato called ‘Charlotte’, I do grow others for their different cooking qualities: *Steamed potatoes are delicious, especially if cooked the day you lift them. Try Vanessa, Dunluce, Edzell Blue and Lady Christl for some of the tastiest steamers. *Just the thought of new potatoes dripping in chives and butter is wonderful; again these are best when freshly harvested. Try Lady Christl, Charlotte, Juliette, Casa Blanca, Nadine and Nicola.

*If you adore mashed potato then try Dunluce, Valour, Maris Bard, Lady Balfour and King Edward. *If you love your potatoes in their jackets, then try Cara, Lady Balfour, Picasso, Kestrel, King Edward, Desiree and Valor. *For great roast potatoes try Kestrel, Maris Piper, Desiree, Lady Balfour, Vivaldi and Edzel Blue. *For the best chips, use Kestrel, King Edward, Maris Peer, Accord, Rooster and Edzel Blue.

Potatoes are divided into ‘earlies’ (first to be harvested) and ‘main crop’, generally larger tubers, harvested later. Try ‘earlies’ if you have a newly created vegetable plot, especially if the soil has not been cultivated for several years. ‘Earlies’ will be in the ground for less time than main crops and are less likely to suffer from wire-worm attack. These small, slim gingery coloured larvae are the young stage of the click beetle and cause infuriating tunnelling in the tubers’ flesh.

If garden space is an issue, ‘earlies’ are useful as they takes less space and are in the ground for a shorter period, giving you the

opportunity to grow another fast-maturing crop such as lettuce or salad leaves after the potatoes have been lifted.

No crop is without its share of problems and potato blight is the most infamous potato disease. The fungus responsible is sometimes hard to beat, especially in warm, damp years. It has the potential to kill off the growing plants and may even infect the tubers.

Generally, ‘earlies’ suffer less with blight and you can also select varieties which show resistance to the infection such as Valor, Lady Balfour,

Coleen and especially Sarpo Mira and Sarpo Axona.

Slugs can also be a real menace, tunnelling into the tubers’ flesh and sometimes even hollowing them out completely. Try growing Cara, Desiree and Sante. ‘Earlies’ are likely to suffer less damage as they are not in the soil for so long. The biological control nematode Nemaslug works under the soil surface, has a brilliant effect and poses no threat to wildlife.

Why not grow some great vegetables in 2013? Visit www.pippagreenwood.com, sign up for ‘Grow Your Own with Pippa Greenwood’ and choose from a fantastic selection.

Pippa sends them to you at just the right time for planting AND each week you receive an email with advice on ensuring great results; from just £29 for up to 66 garden-ready plants and the advice. You can also sign up for Pippa’s newsletter, receive a free e-book on organic gardening, buy Nemaslug and other biological controls and a hand-picked selection of garden products from her website.

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33

Spring Onions The last rays of afternoon sun filtered through the sitting room blinds. Gavin sipped his tea and listened for the sound of the kitchen door closing.

“Granddad, while Gran’s out of the room there’s something I want your advice about”.

Jack glanced up from his newspaper.

“She may be out of the room lad, but it doesn’t mean she’s not listening”.

“I heard that”, Ivy called from the kitchen.

Jack grimaced and lowered his voice, “What is it then?”

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Gavin took a deep breath.

“I’m thinking of asking Abbie to marry me”. He looked at Jack for signs of approval. “What’s the best way to ask so that she’ll say yes?”

Jack suppressed a smile and folded up his paper slowly.

“How long have you been courting, two years?”

“Granddad”, Gavin laughed, “No one says courting these days”.

“Don’t they?” Jack feigned surprise, “Shame”.

“How did you propose to Gran?” Gavin asked.

Jack took off his spectacles and cleaned them on his sweater.

“Well, you know in those days your Gran taught at her dad’s dancing school”.

Gavin nodded. He had heard the story of how they met before - how Jack went to dancing classes just to get to know Ivy. “She was a wonderful dancer, your Gran”, Jack smiled to himself.

“Wonderful to watch - she could spin them round like scooping ducks off a pond”.

“But how did you actually propose?” Gavin asked.

“Well, there’s a story”.

Jack chuckled as he

remembered. “That autumn I knew I was going to be posted so I got hold of a sack of daffodil bulbs. Not easy you know, as there was a war on”. Gavin nodded and dunked another garibaldi biscuit.

scones.

“I went round to your Gran’s house in the middle of the night and planted them in her dad’s back lawn”. He grinned at Gavin. “Do you get it lad?”

“I was just asking Granddad how he proposed”.

Gavin shook his head.

“What are you on about?”

Jack said. “They were daffodils”.

“You see I planted them so that when they came up in the spring they would spell out ‘Will you marry me?’”.

Jack slapped his leg and burst out laughing. The tea cups rattled.

“So, did it work?”

Jack turned unusually sombre.

“Well before I could get an answer I was sent to Dunkirk. I was a prisoner of war for five years and your Gran didn’t know if I was alive or dead”.

The two men were silent for a moment, then Jack remembered the last part of his tale. “When I finally got back I said to Ivy “What do you reckon then?””.

Ivy walked into the room with a plate of buttered

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“And I said, ‘Can I have a bit more time to think about it?’” Ivy winked at Gavin and offered him the plate.

She settled herself down on the sofa.

Ivy chuckled and stirred her tea. “Oh yes, the onions”.

“You daft fool; they were onions, all growing up through the grass saying ‘Will you marry me?’”.

“You never said”. Jack slumped back in his armchair. “I paid good money for them”. ”We were eating those onions all year”.

Ivy laughed, “My dad thought it was marvellous”.

Gavin chewed his scone thoughtfully. Would he and Abbie still surprise each other after fifty years of marriage just like his grandparents did? He smiled, realising that true love didn’t care whether the proposal was made with onions or flowers as long as there was a happy ever after.

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Finance:

10 easy ways to save m While many people hold notions of being better with money, it’s rare that a practical action plan is put together.

Here are ten top moneysaving tips which are commonly-overlooked and which, over the course of the year, will have a drastic impact on your expendable income.

1. Pausing for Thought The four-day wait works.

Any time you’re about to buy something which isn’t a necessity, listen to that niggling voice on your shoulder and wait four days until purchasing. Developing

this simple habit rids you of compulsive buying inclinations and affords you time to compare prices online.

2. Balance Your Bank Account Few people take the time to balance bank statements.

What your bank statement says you have at the end of each month is not the money that’s available to spend. Learn to reconcile your accounts and track your finances properly.

Understanding your financial throughput properly will help develop positive spending habits.

3. Resell Your Clutter It’s frighteningly easy to accumulate unnecessary and unused products. Survey your belongings and unclutter your house and loft by setting up a Gumtree or eBay account.

Rid yourself of these things in a way which will make you money.

4. Transfer Your Balances If you have credit card debts, find another card offering 0% interest for several months,

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sign up and transfer the balance over. You can do this as many times as there are card companies and it will save you a fortune in interest.

5. Insurance Swapping It’s really easy these days to find a great deal on your insurance by using the comparison sites. Finding cheaper deals on your car, home, life and other insurances will take just minutes and could save you hundreds of pounds.

6. Mortgage Shopping While you may have been given a good deal on your mortgage initially, shopping around for a new mortgage could save you hundreds or even thousands of pounds every year if you find a great deal, so spend an afternoon hunting around. Always check the small print.

7. 0% Interest on Purchases When purchasing new products which offer 0% interest, the APR is worked into the price. If you’re in a position to pay cash, negotiate with the e : gazette@fsmail.net

Family weekend tickets First Aberdeen reduces cost

salesperson to do so, but minus the interest worked into the cost. You’d be surprised how often this works and, if the salesperson seems uppity, ask to speak to the manager.

8. Creative Re-using Develop the habit of re-using things. Use modified cornflake boxes for file holders and the bags inside for storing bread in the freezer.

Re-use padded envelopes, cut old towels into cleaning cloths and always be on the lookout for new and creative ways to re-use things to save money.

9. Claiming Tax Benefits A certain stigma used to be attached to claiming tax benefits. Not anymore, and the government puts tax credits at the heart of family budget policies to garner public support. Make sure you take advantage of this and claim for child benefit, working tax and child tax credit if you’re eligible: http://www. hmrc.gov.uk/rates/taxcredits.htm 10. Join Money Saving Expert Saving money should become a hobby and there’s no better place to do so than Money Saving Expert. The forums are awash with incredibly insightful and useful guides on how to save more money than you ever thought possible. Sign up and become an active member of the community:

www.moneysavingexpert.com

First has also reduced the cost of its season tickets with an Annual Adult ticket reduced by nearly 10% to £600 and a six month ticket reduced by £30 to £320 until February 24.

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H0123702

money

First Bus Aberdeen has halved the cost of its ‘First Family’ ticket at weekends until the end of February which means up to two adults and three children can travel anywhere on the network for just £4 in total.

37

Taking a trip to your family’s past

By Claudia Leaf

When Elaine Thomas booked a week’s holiday in a remote cottage in Yorkshire, she had no idea that she was about to solve a mystery.

After several years spent researching her family history, Elaine - who lives in Kent - had discovered that her ancestors were land-owning farmers from the Richmond district of Yorkshire. She was eager to see where they had lived and died so she chose a pretty cottage in the hamlet of Easby as an ideal base from

which to explore the area.

in the churchyard.

Elaine had focused her research on a branch of the Dixon family, tracing the line back to the year 1695, and she was now intent on filling any gaps in her knowledge.

She had been unable to find out where her great, great, great grandparents were buried but thanks to an extraordinary co-incidence she discovered the answer lay only a short stroll away.

A book left out on display in the village church gave the exact location of their graves

Elaine will never know what – or who - led to this uncanny revelation but she believes that luck and instinct can play a pivotal role in family research.

Her interest in the subject began as a child, when her grandmother told her stories about older relatives.

“Once grandma died, I found I was the only person in the family with that knowledge.

I wanted to know more, so I sent off for my grandma’s

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birth certificate. Although I’m not very good with the internet I looked up www. ancestry.co.uk and signed up for two weeks’ free trial.”

Elaine was determined to follow the female line of her family although she knew it would be difficult because the surnames would not be consistent. Unable to progress beyond her great, great grandmother Mary, she worked on a hunch inspired by the census.

“One of her children had the Christian name ‘Dixon’ and I thought that was unusual,” says Elaine. “I’d read in a magazine that mothers often christened children with their maiden names so the name would stay in the family.”

When she entered ‘Mary Dixon’ into an online search, she was rewarded with information that enabled her to trace her roots back to the 17th century.

Elaine’s top tips for starting your own research are to talk to older members of your

family and write down every detail, then start to work backwards by requesting copies of birth, marriage and death certificates from the appropriate local records offices.

Valuable information can be obtained from ancestry search magazines and websites such as www. ancestry.co.uk and www. findagrave.com. She has also found the staff at records offices particularly helpful.

The message boards of online networks such as www.curiousfox.com can be useful but Elaine warns that where the search concerns a common surname, names

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should be double checked against the census or other official records in order to ensure that the person in question belongs to the right family.

Tracking down family records can be challenging, but for Elaine it has opened up a wealth of new opportunities.

“If I hadn’t done this I would never have used a computer.

I’ve also found that my interest in ancestry has given me wider interest in history. I can honestly say it has opened up a whole new life for me.”

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39

Body MOT - A Must For 2013 Health wise I consider myself to be very lucky. So when hitting my milestone birthday last year I decided, prompted by an advert, that maybe I should have a Body MOT. No, not my car – but me!

In our family we have a history of heart disease so that was one of my main concerns. So I took the opportunity to go and visit the Biomedical Clinic at Banchory. Yes, it did cost money, it did cost my time, it didn’t hurt, I got my results there and then and I didn’t trouble my overstretched GP who could usually only afford 8 minutes.

There are a couple of things that you need to do before you go. Fast and provide a mid-stream sample! Now, fasting whilst you sleep is the easiest way so appointments are recommended for first thing in the morning, unless you have good willpower and don’t need your caffeine fix. A mid-stream sample is definitely easier for some than others.

You have to be available for three to four hours (obviously I like to chat so mine was a little longer). It is best to be open and honest to get the best results. There is no pain involved and most of the tests are performed fully clothed. In fact the very

40

worst test was standing on the scales and that was the first test!

Gitta performs most of the tests and to be fair Phillippe and Gitta both make you feel very comfortable and explain absolutely EVERYTHING that is going to happen in great detail.

The hardest thing to do was staying completely still for the full body scan, because as soon as somebody says you can’t move, you of course immediately want too!

The BODY MOT provides an overall assessment of your health. Along with an in-depth consultation, the following tests were conducted; blood pressure, blood glucose and full cholesterol profile, haemoglobin, spirometry (lung function), ECG, audiology, body composition, heart rate variability (the gold standard for stress testing), CASP (central aortic systolic pressure), arterial age, body scan, reflex assessment to name a few. These tests will give you an indication if you are within the acceptable parameters for your age group. Despite following a very unhealthy diet I found I had good lungs! Excellent hearing (my children will deny this!), and an inner age

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of 8 years younger than my actual age. So I was urged to follow a healthier diet (which I already know that I should be doing and am now trying to do – well cut down the chocolate bars but not completely!) The good bit was finding out that my heart was ‘currently sound’. Phillippe could even tell me that I had never suffered any hidden heart attacks. Of course if there were abnormalities found during ANY of the tests you would be referred to your own doctor but Gitta and Phillippe can advise you on natural, side effect free biomedical preparations and lifestyle changes to help you attain your health goals.

If you have private medical insurance then you can maybe even claim the cost of the Body MOT back – you would need to check with your own insurers.

I now have peace of mind that currently I have no health problems to worry about and with a healthier diet I can bring my inner age down even further as well as having more energy, sleep better and have a healthy glow.

This is definitely a gift to give to you this year. The shoes and handbag can definitely wait! e : gazette@fsmail.net

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41

Get motivated!

We can all feel de-motivated at times, so if January has passed you by without starting any of those New Year resolutions, turn February into the month you take some positive steps to regain control.

Trying to achieve all that you want in the coming year may feel like an impossible task and it can lead to feeling totally de-motivated.

Motivation is key to our creativity, productivity and happiness. When we are motivated we feel like we can take on any challenge, meet any deadline and work through any problem to achieve our goal, whether that’s personal satisfaction or public recognition for a job well done. But once de-motivation sets in, then even the smallest task can seem insurmountable.

you are less likely to keep up your motivation.

So prioritise, write yourself a list and start with number one.

Talk about it A great motivator is other people. If you tell people that you’re going to start writing that novel this month or apply for the local half marathon, you’re much more likely to do it. Talk to friends, family and work colleagues - their gentle nudges or encouragement will help to keep you on track. Putting up little post-it notes to remind yourself of your goals and why you want to achieve them will help keep you motivated and on track, too.

Reward yourself For every achievement, however big or small, reward yourself - you deserve it.

Set small goals

Reject negative thoughts

If you’ve given yourself a big goal this year, such as losing a large amount of weight or changing jobs, break it into small, short term goals. Give yourself weekly targets – losing 5lbs or re-writing your CV - and then congratulate yourself on achieving them. By doing this you are building up positive ‘credits’ in your mind, keeping you going for the following week.

How many times do you find yourself saying ‘I can’t do it’, ‘it won’t happen’, or ‘it’s too hard’?

Negative thoughts can really bring you down, so give yourself a buzz word or mantra to repeat immediately when a negative thought pops into your head. ‘I’m doing it.’

Be inspired

Starting to exercise, cutting down on unhealthy food, changing jobs, starting your own business. None of these are easy. Accept that there will be set-backs and bad days or bad weeks. But keep looking at the positives - what did you manage to achieve this week, or how are you going to do better next week?

Richard Branson has had a few business failures which he’s written about in his autobiographies.

But these set-backs didn’t stop him - he just tried again. It can be really uplifting to read about other people’s successes. There are also a lot of self-help and business books available which can help you to think about what you do and don’t want. A good one to start with is the international best-seller, Who Moved My Cheese?

(Dr Spencer Johnson, Vermilion) Stay focused Don’t give yourself too many goals to aim for at once. Focus on one, work out how best to achieve it (in small steps, if needed) and work your way through it before starting on your next goal. Diffusing your energy by trying to change too many things at once will just mean

Look at the positive

So plan ahead, have lots of small goals to help you reach your big goal, accept there will be set-backs and look at how other people have done what you would like to do. And keep going - you’re doing great!

Northern Arts Club Art Exhibition and Sale 8 Bon Accord Square, Aberdeen Original paintings at affordable prices

For two weekends only Saturday 16th March and Sunday 17th March, 10.30am to 4.30pm Saturday 23rd March and Sunday 24th April, 10.30am to 4.30pm

Admission Free Everyone very welcome

Full4Health Full4Health brings together researchers from across Europe with Rowett scientists taking a leading role. It is hoped that this project it will further our understanding of obesity, chronic disease and undernutrition. This study will be looking at the impact of what we consume for breakfast has on our motivation to eat. Volunteers will consume four different breakfast drinks on four separate mornings and appetite will be measured for the duration of each visit (approximately 3 and a half hours). Volunteers will receive feedback about their body weight, BMI, body fat, waist circumference, typical feeding habits and habitual physical activity.

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

Are you aged between 25-45 or 65-75 years old?

Then, the Full4Health study is for you!

The study involves 4 Breakfast Visits (3.5 hrs) at the Rowe� Ins�tute during which you will get a free breakfast and a selec�on of mid‐morning snacks.

Harnessing new insights into food, gut and

brain interac�ons will lead to be�er understanding of our feelings of hunger or sa�ety. www.full4health.eu

The study is funded by the European Union Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007‐2013) under grant agreement n° 266408

The Marie Curie Whole Hog Challenge 2013 – Banchory, Aberdeenshire iced water and a well-deserved hog roast on crossing the finish line.

On Sunday 26th May 2013 the event is back for its second year. Having raised an amazing £14,000 in 2012, we’re hoping to reach £27,000 this year to fund our Marie Curie nursing service in the Aberdeenshire area. That’s the equivalent of 1350 hours of nursing to patients with terminal cancer and other illnesses, in the comfort of their own homes.

For the first time in May 2012, Marie Curie Cancer Care threw down the gauntlet and challenged 100 people to climb up waterfalls, scramble through mud and test their endurance by taking part in the Marie Curie Whole Hog Challenge.

The charity is calling on everyone looking for an adventure to sign up. The Marie Curie Whole Hog Challenge is sure to test stamina and appeal to thrill seekers, fitness fans, or those looking for a fun and unusual challenge to work towards in 2013.

Designed by an ex-marine, the Whole Hog Challenge combines an adventure assault course with a cross country run through the wild terrain of Aberdeenshire. On the day of the 2012 event runners passed through the grounds of the beautiful Crathes Castle, experiencing the best of Scotland’s heritage.

The unusually hot weather truly tested the mettle of participants, who were thankful for

44

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The registration fee is £35 per individual, or £105 per team of three, and a minimum sponsorship of £100 per person. For more information about the Whole Hog Challenge, call 0845 052 4184 or visit

www.mariecurie.org.uk/wholehogaberdeenshire

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L A C L Now you have 18 pages of local businesses...

Local events, theatre listing, clubs and classes, notices.

Keep trade local and start using and supporting local businesses today.

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45

Film: The Descendants (Payne 2011) Film, Woodend Barn Tuesday 12 Feb 2013 7:30pm From Alexander Payne, the creator of the Oscar-winning SIDEWAYS, set in Hawaii, THE DESCENDANTS is a sometimes humorous, sometimes tragic journey for Matt King (George Clooney) an indifferent husband and father of two girls, who is forced to re-examine his past and embrace his future when his wife suffers a boating accident off of Waikiki.

The event leads to a rapprochement with his young daughters while Matt wrestles with a decision to sell the family’s land handed down from Hawaiian royalty and missionaries. £5.50, £4.50 conc. + bf

WMS: Gildas Quartet Music, Woodend Barn Sunday 17 Feb 2013 7:00pm Recent winners of a 2013 Tunnell Trust Concert Award this outstanding young quartet, formed in 2010 by Masters students at the Royal Northern College of Music, has performed widely in the UK and across Europe. They have accumulated numerous prizes between them, most recently being awarded the prestigious Barbirolli Prize for String Quartet. This concert is sponsored by the Tunnell Trust.

Smallpetitklein: CUT Theatre, Woodend Barn Wednesday 13 Feb 2013 7:00pm CUT is an interactive promenade performance around various spaces in Woodend Barn, fusing dance, text, design, animation, new music and comedy, in a quirky, melodramatic reimagining of the story of Bizet’s opera Carmen.

Eugene Onegin – Live from the Royal Opera House Theatre, Woodend Barn Wednesday 20 Feb 2013 7:15pm An opera full of poignancy and sensitivity to the nuances of growing up and wrestling to understand your emotions. Eugene Onegin is Tchaikovsky’s tender exploration of a young girl’s awakening passion, her rejection by the aloof Onegin and her ultimate choice of honour over true love.

Working with the Danish set designer Mia Stensgaard, whose design hallmark is clean, strong images ripe with emotion, and fielding a brilliant cast, director Kasper Holten will provide a fresh reading of this classic opera.

Scottish Opera: Opera Highlights Music, Woodend Barn Thursday 14 Feb 2013 7:30pm Scottish Opera is hitting the road once more, travelling the length and breadth of Scotland with a selection of opera highlights, and bringing the 50th anniversary celebrations to a venue near you!

Scottish Opera Highlights Theatre, Woodend Barn Thursday 14 Feb 2013 7:30pm Scottish Opera bring their 50th anniversary celebrations to Woodend Barn. The show will feature musical highlights from their favourite productions over the years, and includes stories and anecdotes from the Company’s history. Full of energy, versatility and plenty of humour, a cast of four young singers and a pianist perform a line-up of excerpts from favourites including Bizet’s Carmen, Puccini’s La Bohème, and Mozart’s Don Giovanni, as well as music by Handel, Rossini, Britten and Bernstein, and some surprises from lesser-known works.

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Haydn: String Quartet Op. 54 No. 2 Britten: String Quartet No. 1 Brahms: String Quartet Op. 51 No. 2

A stellar line-up of Scottish musicians including Emma Pollock, Withered Hand and Rachel Sermanni feature in this beautiful collection of stories told in song, shot during the night in locations across the country. Come and meet lost souls, party animals and dreamers in a snapshot of an entire nation between the hours of midnight and 4am.

WMS: Stephen Osborne Music, Woodend Barn Sunday 24 Feb 2013 3:00pm Pianist Steven Osborne is one of Britain’s foremost musicians, renowned for his idiomatic approach to a wide variety of repertoire. His numerous awards and prizes includes the 2009 Gramophone Award for his recording of Britten’s works for piano and orchestra.

is e m a N y M

l e h c a R r ie C or

Whatever Gets You Through The Night Film, Woodend Barn Friday 22 Feb 2013 8:00pm

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★★★★ Scotsman ★★★★ Guardian ★★★★ The List

Fri 8 March, 7.30pm Crathes Hall Tickets £9/£7 (£10/£8 on door) 01330 844523

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Music Theatre Live Entertainment Tickets from boxofficeaberdeen.com or tel : 01224 641122

What’s On in February at His Majesty’s Theatre, Music Hall and Lemon Tree, Aberdeen Friday to Sunday, February 8 to 10: Overflowing with audience participation, non-stop favourite songs and amazing costumes, The Singing Kettle: Fairytale Castle, in the Music Hall, Aberdeen, at 10am and 1.30pm on Friday and at noon and 3pm on Saturday and Sunday.

Saturday, February 9: Seventy-five minute behind-the-scenes tour at Aberdeen’s iconic Edwardian landmark, His Majesty’s Theatre, in HMT at 10.30am.

Saturday, February 9: Live at the Apollo star and Satnd Up For The Week regular Andrew Lawrence, in The Lemon Tree Lounge, West North Street, Aberdeen, doors at 7pm. Tickets rom boxofficeaberdeen.com or tel 01224 641122 Monday, February 11: Celebrating the iconic The Dark Side of the Moon album with a new format and set list, Australian Pink Floyd 2013 Eclipsed by the

Moon European tour, in the Music Hall, Aberdeen, doors at 7pm.

Milton Jones: On the Road, in the Music Hall, Aberdeen, at 8pm.

Monday to Saturday, February 11 to 16: A jukebox musical which takes its audience back through the music and magic of the 60s, Save The Last Dance For Me, in His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen, at 7.30pm, with 2pm Thursday and 2.30pm Saturday matinees.

Friday, February 15: Local bands including Amy Sawyers, Dear John, Marionettes, Sensational Swampsnakes and Craig Davidson perform in a Macmillan Cancer Care Charity Concert, in The Lemon Tree Lounge, West North Street, Aberdeen, doors at 7pm.

Tuesday, February 12: Legendary Sheffield-born singer, songwriter and former frontman of Ace, Squeeze and Mike and the Mechanics, Paul Carrack: Good Feelin’ Tour, in the Music Hall, Aberdeen, at 7.30pm.

Thursday, February 14: Alan Greig Dance Theatre and Grant Smeaton present a dynamic new production by award-winning director Grant Smeaton and seminal Scottish choreographer Alan Greig, Do You Nomi?, in The Lemon Tree Studio, West North Street, Aberdeen, at 7pm.

Friday, February 15: Star of Mock and Week and Live at the Apollo, surreal stand-up

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Saturday, February 16: Seventy-five minute behind-the-scenes tour at Aberdeen’s iconic Edwardian landmark, His Majesty’s Theatre, in HMT at 10.30am.

Sunday, February 17: Following the sudden death of founding member Banjo Barney McKenna, Sean Cannon, Eamonn Campbell, Patry Watchorn and Gerry O’Connor, formerly of The Dubliners, continue the legacy, in the Music Hall, Aberdeen, at 7.30pm.

Monday, February 18: Scottish Ensemble present La Follia, performing Geminiani’s Concerto Grosso La Follia, Górecki’s

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Harpsichord Concerto and Three Pieces in Old Style, Vaughan Williams’ Violin Concerto in D, Holst’s St Paul’s Suite, Vivaldi’s Concerto Grosso op3 and Britten’s Simple Symphony, in the Music Hall, Aberdeen, at 7.30pm.

Friday, February 22: An evening of traditional Scottish dancing with one of the North-east’s top ceilidh bands in Ceilidh with Shindig, in the Music Hall, Aberdeen, at 8pm.

Friday, February 22: The brand new sing along screening of the classic film starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, Singa-Longa Grease, in His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen, at 7.30pm.

Friday and Saturday, February 22 and 23: Vox Motus presents the hilarious dark comedy Slick, winner of Scotsman Fringe First (2008) and a Critic’s Award for Theatre in Scotland (2008/9), in The Lemon Tree Studio, West North Street, Aberdeen, at 7pm.

Saturday, February 23: Scottish Chamber Orchestra present Anderszewski plays Mozart, with pianist/director Piotr Anderszewski and violinist/director Alexander Janiczek, performing Mozart’s Piano Concertos

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No23 and No25, Schubert’s Overture in D In The Italian Style, and Beethoven’s Grosse Fuge, in the Music Hall, Aberdeen, at 7.30pm.

Sunday, February 24: Music for Scotland – Bands Showcase for Weddings, when six of the agency’s best wedding bands will perform four songs each, giving prospective customers the chance to see the bands in action in a cosy atmosphere, in The Lemon Tree Studio, West North Street, Aberdeen, at 1.45pm. Free.

Sunday, February 24: Organised by Westhill and District Rotary Club, the fifth annual musical journey Around the World, featuring over 300 talent performers from local schools, in the Music Hall, Aberdeen, at 2.30pm.

Monday, February 25: One of Strictly Come Dancing’s most charismatic choreographers and performers, Brendan Cole in Licence to Thrill, in the Music Hall, Aberdeen, at 7.30pm.

Monday, February 25 to Saturday, March 2: The longest running show in the history of British theatre on its first ever UK tour, Agatha Christie’s legendary murder mystery The Mousetrap, in His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen, at 7.30pm, with 2pm Thursday and 2.30pm Saturday matinees.

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Tuesday, February 26: Seafarers UK present The Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines Scotland, under the direction of Captain Andy Gregory RM, in the Music Hall, Aberdeen, at 7pm.

Wednesday, February 27: DF Concerts present Frightened Rabbit, in the Music Hall, Aberdeen, doors at 7pm.

Thursday, February 28: Showcasing the best that Scotland has to offer, Pride of Scotland, in the Music Hall, Aberdeen, at 7.30pm.

Into the future...

Birds of a Feather with Pauline Quirke, Linda Robson and Lesley Joseph (April 2-6 2013) The 39 Steps (June 3-8 2013) The Woman in Black (June 10 -15 2013)

For younger audience ...

Dora the Explorer (April 12 -14) Horrible Histories (April 23-27) Spot’s Birthday Party (June 13-15)

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Recession!

We chose to save money by cutting back on advertising

Currently things are quiet, so we will probably advertise when things pick up.

CUMMING FIRE & SECURITY

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Fire Alarm Systems, Fire Extinguishers, CCTV, Door Entry Systems, Fire Risk Assessments and Fire Extinguisher Training.

We fit External Electric Sockets for Garden Tools and Garden & Christmas Lighting.

Lights and Heating for Greenhouses, Sheds and Summer Houses.

Our shop in Aquithie Road, Kemnay stocks a large variety of light bulbs, including 60w/100w bulbs

For Peace of Mind at Home or Work .....

CUMMING FIRE & SECURITY .....Call Us Now 01467 - 643917

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49

Little wonders How little tablets can be cheap and cheerful Tablets are wonderful things, but they can be pricey: while £400 isn’t much compared to the price of a high-end laptop, it’s still £400. But you don’t need to spend that much to find a perfectly good tablet: in fact, there are good ones for as little as £99.

The £99 tablet is Amazon’s Kindle Fire, which dropped from £129 to £99 in November (if it’s gone back up again, don’t worry - you can be sure the price will fall again very soon).

While it isn’t exactly state of the art it’s still a perfectly decent tablet for watching videos, playing Angry Birds, using Facebook and so on.

If you fancy something a little more powerful but not much more expensive, Amazon’s Kindle Fire HD is very good too. It boasts a much better screen, which is superb for video, and comes with more storage, faster Wi-Fi wireless networking and a faster processor. Prices start at just £159 for the 16GB model.

Before you spend £159, though, check out Google’s offering, the Nexus 7. Like the Kindle Fire it’s just £159 for the 16GB model, and as it’s Google’s own device it’s a proper Android tablet without the customisation that some

50

manufacturers add to the operating system. Once again it’s a seven-inch device with a powerful processor, integrated Wi-Fi wireless networking and good battery life.

There are two other £159 tablets to consider: the Kobo Arc and the Nook HD. The former comes from Kobo, Amazon’s main rival in the e-reading sector, and it’s aimed primarily at e-book readers who fancy the odd video, song or bit of web browsing, while the latter is by US bookselling giant Barnes & Noble and hopes to carve a niche offering electronic magazines as well as apps.

Technically speaking they’re very good - the Nook HD in particular has a wonderful screen, is very light and easy to use - but tablets rise and fall on the strength of their content libraries and Amazon has the edge in that department. If you want a tablet that has lots of stuff to choose from and which is very easy to use, the Kindle Fire HD will look very attractive; if you’re more techy and want something you can fiddle with too, Google’s Nexus is more likely to appeal.

You can’t mention tablets without mentioning Apple, and while Apple also has a

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cheap tablet we’re talking cheap in Apple terms: the iPad mini starts at £269, which is significantly more than other seven-ish-inch tablets - although it’s a good bit less than a full-sized iPad. Apple claims it’s “every inch an iPad”, and that’s a fair claim: it’s essentially an iPad 2 crammed into a smaller case, so it runs existing iPad apps quite happily. It has more available tablet apps than any other small tablet, it has a slightly bigger screen - it’s 7.9 inches rather than the rivals’ 7 inches, which doesn’t sound much but makes a big difference when you’re using it - and to our eyes it’s much better-looking and better-engineered than any rival.

Is the iPad mini worth the extra cash? If you want a premium tablet, you’re using other Apple products or you’ve already amassed a stack of iOS apps then yes. If not, you may well find that a smaller rival will be just as much fun for considerably less cash.

IMAGES l-r iPad mini Kindle Fire HD Kobo Arc Nexus 7

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Recession!

We chose to save money by advertising locally with the gazette.

We have successfully raised our profile within a tightly targeted area and people appreciate how great our business is.

Result : more work, more

profit - and people are talking Just compare us to any other local publication! www.thegranitecitygazette.co.uk e : gazette@fsmail.net t : 01224 - 318561

Computer Not working?

Call Steve’s Computer Repairs

No Fix, No Fee

terrepairs.co.uk

www.stevescompu

Mob : 07752 808 639 Tel : 01224 874441 Email : stevespcrepairs@hotmail.com

interior / exterior /plastering/water damage fixed price quotations - no VAT 19 Craigiebuckler Place

tel : 01224 - 316898 mob : 07711 120 217

G-DEC - George Crichton

Professional Painter & Decorator Interior & Exterior

including kitchen cupboard & furniture painting service

gdecpainter@gmail.com Tel : 01224 897820 Mob : 07921 136 467

Quality Products and Workmanship Wallpaper Hanging Lining/Emulsion Hand Taping

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2013/2014

51

Muriel’s Puzzle Pages HIDATO Starting at 1 and finishing at 34, track your way from one hexagon to another (touching) hexagon, placing consecutive numbers into the empty shapes as you go. Some numbers are already given.

Easy Sudoku

Easy Harder Sudoku

ŠPuzzlepress.co.uk

Hard R E V LS O You have two minutes to find all the words of three or more letters that can be made from the letters above. Plurals are allowed, proper nouns are not. The 6 letter word will always be just a normal everyday word.

3 letters: 3 4 letters: 16 5 letters: 12 6 letters: 2

WOULD YOU BE A

MYSTERY HOUSE?

12000 copies of the magazine are delivered across the West End of Aberdeen predominantly in AB10, AB15 and AB11 and we need mystery houses within the distribution routes to ensure each delivery is carried out thoroughly.

All you have to do is register as a mystery house and report to us by phone, text or email each month when you receive your magazine. In return, as a thank you, for each confirmation, the gazette will donate £5 worth of advertising to a selected local charity nominated by yourselves. We’ll let your know each month which charity and how much advertising has been raised.

To register call : 01224 318561 or email: gazette@fsmail.net include your name, address and phone number + a charity you’d like to support.

Muriel’s Puzzle Pages CODEWORD Each letter in this puzzle is represented by a different number between 1 and 26.

The codes for three letters are shown. Once you have filled these throughout the grid you can start guessing words and reveal other letters. As you find the letters enter them in the box below.

13 13

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20 12

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A T

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14 14

21 13

Word Ladder

Change one letter at a time (but not the position of any letter) to make a new word - and move from the word at the top of the ladder to the word at the bottom, using the exactly number of rungs provided.

J U N K

18

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ŠPuzzlepress.co.uk

www.thegranitecitygazette.co.uk

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Calcudoku

26

5

x12

4

3

Fill each cell with a number from 1-6. No number can be repeated in any row or column. The numbers in the heavily outlined set of squares (cages) must combine in any order to produce the target number in the top corner, using only the mathematical operator specified: +, -, x or /. Numbers can be repeated within a cage, but not in the same row or column.

C A S H 54

25

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3 5

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

D.A.W.G.S Dog Action Working Group Scotland

If you can no longer take care of your dog, we can help!

D.A.W.G.S finds loving homes for dogs whose owners can no longer take care of them

For further information contact:DAWGS on 01224 208989 or visit www.dawgs.co.uk 6 Whitemyres Holdings, Lang Stracht, Aberdeen.

Winter Tips for Your Car

Keep your headlights clear with car wax!

Just wipe ordinary car wax on your headlights. It contains special water repellents that will prevent that messy mixture from accumulating on your lights - lasts approx 6 weeks.

Squeak-proof your wipers with rubbing alcohol! Wipe the wipers with a cloth saturated with rubbing alcohol or ammonia.

This one trick can make badly streaking & squeaking wipers change to near perfect silence & clarity Ice-proof your windows with vinegar!

Frost on it’s way? Just fill a spray bottle with three parts vinegar to one part water & spritz it on all your windows at night. In the morning, they’ll be clear of icy mess.

Vinegar contains acetic acid, which raises the melting point of water---preventing water from freezing!

Prevent car doors from freezing shut with cooking spray! Spritz cooking oil on the rubber seals around car doors & rub it in with a paper towel The cooking spray prevents water from melting into the rubber

Need some flyers?

135gsm double-sided A5 size £90 for 1000 (within 7 working days) £108 for 2500 (within 7 working days) Call Sue : 318561

Fog-proof your windshield with shaving cream! Spray some shaving cream on the inside of your windshield & wipe if off with paper towels. Shaving cream has many of the same ingredients found in commercial defoggers.

De-ice your lock in seconds with hand sanitizer! Just put some hand sanitizer gel on the key & the lock & the problems solved!

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55

Muriel’s Puzzle Solutions

Easy Hard 56

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ORLE ORLES OVER OVERS REV REVS ROE ROES ROLE ROLES ROSE

ROVE ROVES SERVO SLOE SOLE SOLVE SOLVER SORE SOREL VOLE VOLES

JUNK bunk bank bask cask CASH

EROS LORE LORES LOSE LOSER LOVE LOVER LOVES LOVERS ORE ORES

Here is one possible solution (others may exist)

Calcudoku Answer

SOLUTION Codeword

Cryptic Crossword

Looking for a

Relaxed Atmosphere Personal Attention Wedding Speciality

Mon-Fri 9am-5pm Saturday 9am-1pm CLOSED THURSDAY

t : 01224 - 318561

Tel : 322000 Devonair Hairstylists 2 Devonshire Road Aberdeen (off St Swithin St)

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community clubs & groups

adult groups Keep Fit Class, the Swedish Way! With Friskis and Svettis Medium jympa class, Mondays 5.30pm at Queens Cross Church hall Fitness, flexibility and strength- an all round workout to great music! No need to book, just turn up and have fun while exercising For more info contact Kirsty on 07711825614 or visit fsaberdeen.co.uk Mannofield Church Hill Walking Club Monthly trips to the Cairngorms. New members welcome. Contact Peter Stewart for a programme. 313721 or p.stewart1@btinternet.com .

Rubislaw Church Centre Fountainhall Road/Beaconsfield Place Open Monday - Friday morning for teas, coffees etc Full access and facilities for those with disabilities Rooms available for hire - contact 645477 www.rubislawchurch.org.uk Jog Scotland Meets at RGU Sport Garthdee Road Wed 6pm Contact Mandy 322158 Jog Scotland - Airyhall Meets outside Airyhall Community Centre Tuesday 7pm. Contact Julie 325 830 or www.jogscotland-airyhall.co.uk Rotary club of Aberdeen St. Nicholas At present we are canvassing for new members,we are a very friendly club who meet for lunch,friendship and business every Monday 12.45 for1.00 pm at the Northern Hotel.If you are interested you are welcome to join us any Monday lunch time. If you would like to find out more click on to rotary 1010.co.uk select clubs and go to Aberdeen St. Nicholas or telephone Ernie on 641299/312493.

Airyhall Badminton Group Meets weekly at Airyhall Community Centre on Mondays 8pm to 10pm. All welcome. Annual Fee £7.00 and nightly fee £1.00. Contact David 01224 321301 e mail david@david143.wanadoo.co.uk or pop along on the night.

Hatha Yoga Tues 17.45-19.15, AYC, 8 Bon Accord Sq hurs 10.00-11.30/Fri 10.15-11.45, Fri 12.001250, Queens Cross Church, Tel 648475 or moira.chicometrics@gmail.com Registered Yoga Scotland teacher www.moirayogaaberdeen.co.uk Craigiebuckler Seniors Club Criagiebuckler Church Hall, 1st Wed of every month 2-4pm speakers/entertainment/ teas/coffees £2 per person, all‘seniors’welcome Woodend Bridge Club @ Woodend Bowling Club Bridge on Mon evening, Tue evening and Friday afternoons. Ample free parking. Contact Chris Blunt 317298 Craigiebuckler & Seafield Community Council craigden10@live.com We will discuss issues affecting our community and decide on strategies for resolving them. 7.30pm in Craigiebuckler Parish Church hall Friskiis & Svettis Exercise Class Senior Basic : Monday 9.50 Friday 10am £2.50 per class. Drop in - come as often as you like. Cairncry Community Centre Tel : Gunilla - 319377 Italian Classes for Beginners to Advanced in Cults at Hillview Community Church and Cults Academy Tuesday, Thursday and Friday – day and evening email enrica.conti@tiscali.co.uk Tel 07786827714 Morven Singers We are a 4 part Choir singing a wide variety of music. We meet in Ruthrieston Church Hall, Broomhill Road on Wed 7.30p.m. to 9.30p.m. Interested, contact Tel 07519 749 258.

Airyhall Ramblers: Over 50s Walking Group Walks fortnightly on Wednesdays, average distance 6/7 miles. Transport provided, meeting near Airyhall School at 9.15. Friendly folk, good exercise. Interested? Contact Anne Ross 314524 Exercise the fun way, the Swedish way!

Fun & effective all over body workout to lively music! Hilton Community Centre, Hilton Road. No need to book, just turn up & enjoy. Tuesday 6.30pm-7.30pm faye53@btopenworld.com No fancy keep fit gear required, just comfortable clothing & trainers, maybe a bottle of water! For further info, contact Faye 07738 786926 Westburn Lawn Tennis Club Come and play tennis on REAL GRASS courts at Westburn Park. Westburn is a small, friendly club offering both social and competitive tennis at very reasonable rates.

Come and join us (free for your first visit). Membership info: Barbara Miller, 635556 Russian evening & daytime classes beginning late September 2012 in North Deeside area for all interests and ages. Register interest at easyrussian4u@gmail.com or ring Vilena 07778 781030 Italian Classes for Beginners & Intermediate Starting in August at Kaimhill Community Learning Italian Classes for Beginners and Intermediate PLUS Italian Cookery - All welcome - for more information 01224 209622 OR email: giuseppinaca@ fsmail.net March Hare Market marchharemarket@gmail.com 07725 591 866 Boys Brigade HQ Adult Spanish and French classes Airyhall Community Centre Experienced language teacher E-mail John at jymcl11@gmail.com or Tel: 01224 582491 Concordia String Orchestra Welcomes string players of grade VII or above. Rehearsals at Ferryhill Church every Tuesday, starting at 7.30. Please contact Dave Southwood for more details (01467 642408) 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.

All round body workout to lively music!

Tel: 07738 786926 Come along for a fun & effective workout - no need to book, just turn up. Wednesday 6pm-7pm Inchgarth Community Centre, Garthdee. No fancy keep fit gear required, just comfortable clothing & trainers - maybe just bring a bottle of water!

For more info contact Faye 07738 786926 Learn Italian at Pasta Plus Wednesday evenings : an informal italian language class at Pasta Plus 119 Rosemount Place, Aberdeen, Scotland Tel: 07950603477- 01224 624030 (Please call to book a space and learn of the start date) Aberdeen Gaelic Choir Enjoy harmony singing in Scotland’s traditional language. New members welcome. Knowledge of Gaelic not required. Meet every Tuesday at 7.30pm in Holburn West Church, corner of Great Western Road and Ashley Park Drive. Contact Mike on 632354/mclintockm@aol.com or e mail to aberdeengaelichoir@gmail.com

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57

community clubs & groups

adult groups Like walking?

Then why not join the “Seafield Walking Group”. It’s a great way of keeping fit, socialising and getting out into the countryside! For further information contact Elinor Tel. 314609.

Tango Aberdeen Argentine tango dance classes Wed & Sun evenings fm 7.30pm £6 (Conc £4) Discover the passion & elegance of Argentine Tango www.tangoaberdeen.com Granite City WRI Ruthrieston Community Centre, 536 Holburn Street, Meets 4th Wed of the month, Sept to Jun. 7pm – 9pm. All welcome: Tel 571131 or 316266 University of Third Age (U3A): tel 702836 Marion. Informal learning for the retired & semi-retired.

Monday Club tel : 01224-322946 Queen’s Cross Church Hall - Mon’s 2-4pm. Friendly games of bridge & scrabble - beginners welcome - All Ages Royal Horticultural Society Abdn tel : 781171 1st Tues in Mar @ 7.30pm Girl’s Brigade Hall, 19a Victoria St The Learig Orchestra Tel : 322617 Brian Priestley Welcomes string, brass & woodwind players of all standards to its rehearsals at Woodend Hospital on Tues at 7.30pm Old Time Dance Classes Dunbar St Hall, Old Aberdeen - 7.45pm - 10pm 1st & 3rd Tues each month £4.00 per night Tel : James Watson : 314953 Scottish Country Dancing Scottish Country Dancing classes running from January to March from beginners to advanced levels. If you are interested please phone 01224 636128 Aberdeen Chorus - Sweet Adelines Int’ Britannia Hotel, Bucksburn, Mon 7.30 - 10pm Tel: Debbie 07967629272 Silver City Blues - Masters Swimming Club Hazlehead Pool Mon 8:30-10pm, Cults Academy Tues 8:15-9:45pm, Robert Gordon University Weds 7-9pm, Cults Academy Thurs 8:30-10:00pm.

Contact: Head Coach Hilary Stewart on 07815824057 Senior Citizens Group Tues (2-4pm) Airyhall Community Centre. New members always welcome Interested, contact 318698 (sec) The City of Aberdeen Probus A Club for retired businessmen & professionals. Meet on Wed am’s twice monthly (Sept - Jun), (Aberdeenshire Cricket Club) A wide range of talks on many topics fm interesting speakers. Other activities incl occasional lunches, trips, bowling & golf competitions. New members welcome. Ian Struthers, Tel 314957 Airyhall Community Centre Bowling Section Meets Mon/Wed/Fri 10-12 – Fri pm 2-4 £6 for session £4 to join community centre Limited spare bowls if you don’t have your own.

Tel : 318103 (Bill Setter) Granite City Speakers Club Meet every two weeks on Friday nights at 8.0pm in Aberdeen Arts Centre, Secretary: Fred Stewart, tel 723937 Our club offers a warm friendly atmosphere, advice and support. New members & visitors welcome.

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Aberdeen Kilt Kickers American Square Dance Club, Meets at WRI Hall, Cults, Beginners from September 7.30 - 9.00pm £2.50 per night Fred Gibb, Tel 486665 Woodend Bowling Club 285 King’s Gate, A. McCulloch Secretary Tel. 317317 Friendly and relaxing outdoor activity: new members welcome.

Aberdeen Gaelic Club Brings together Gaelic speakers and individuals interested in Gaelic language and culture. Gaelic language evening classes & weekend courses plus social activities. tel 0777 939 8289, e clubgaidhlig@googlemail.com or http://aberdeengaelic.wordpress.com.

Holburn West Church Tennis 12a Ashley Park South Open Apr - Oct Annual Subs & Family Membership at Bargain Prices New members always welcome Small friendly Club Sally Davis (sec) Tel. 326111 Aberdeen Bowling Club Come and join us for a game of bowls at 50 Carlton Place. Tel.643233 Woodburn Walkers Enjoy the countryside, meet new friends, keep fit – join the Woodburn Walkers. Age: 55+. Transport: Hire Bus. Fortnightly: Tues Start Point: Hazlehead Park. Time: 9am for 9.15am. Average Distance: 7 miles Tel: 318313 & 821753 Dru Yoga A soft, gentle style of exercise, Dru Yoga is suitable for all. Tues 7.00 - 8.00 pm, Jubilee Hall, South Holburn Church. Wed 10.30 - 11.30 pm, Broomhill Activity Centre. Thurs 10.00 - 11.30 am, Girlguiding 45 Victoria Street.

Telephone: Pauline 643447 Bon Accord branch – Sugarcraft Guild Meets at Rubislaw Park Care Home - Last Mon of month, 7-9pm Learn lots through demos and workshops £5 per meeting (incl refreshments) – friendly & informal group, enjoyable at all skill levels. Call Fiona Mackie on 07748 845 141 or e-mail Fionamackie118@btinternet.com Viking Hiking (Nordic Walking) One hour sessions each Thurs, Fri, Sat and Sun at 10am, Meet at Hazlehead main car park (behind the Park Restaurant). Info fm John Greig Tel. 321088 Aberdeen Humanist Group Skene House Hotel, 6 Union Grove Monthly meetings for those with a secular life-stance. Interesting speakers and topics for discussion.

Tel : M Richardson - 01888-562237 Northern Arts Club 8 Bon Accord Square, Aberdeen Come along to draw and paint on Wednesdays 10-12.30pm. Tutor session 1st Wed. of every month. Contact Jacqueline 586928 Life Drawing Class 8 Bon Accord Square, Aberdeen Saturday morning 10-1pm Contact Ian 484040 Bridge Tuition Beginner and intermediate Thursday evening, call Margaret 868230 Room/s for hire 8 Bon Accord Square, Aberdeen Do you need a new venue for your book club/ chess club/choir/art & craft club, then contact Jacqueline 586928 Aberdeen Tai Chi Chuan ‘88 Authentic tai chi, thorough tuition with Don Wells. Cults Church Hall, 6.30pm Wed £3.50. First class free.

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community clubs & groups

adult groups Rotary Club of Aberdeen Deeside Weekly on a Wed. at 6.15pm for 6.45pm in Cults Hotel. Rotary is a Service Organisation for community and international needs putting“Service before Self”. Take a look at www.aberdeewndeesiderotary.org.uk to see our range of activities and speakers, or come along and see what we get up to. Contact secretary Quentin Tweedie 868218 Iyengar Yoga Classes ; Tues 12 - 1pm & 1pm - 2pm at citymoves Tues 7.30 - 9.30 pm & Wed 7.15 9.15 at South Holburn Parish Church. All classes run by Fiona Bochel, Cost is £5 an hour, tel 861347 Monday Badminton Ruthrieston West Church Hall Monday’s @ 7.30pm Ceilidh Classes!

Do you have a wedding or a“do”coming up in 2013? We are holding ceilidh classes on the following dates - just turn up for an evening of fun tuition! Venue: South St Nicholas Church Hall Kincorth Circle, Kincorth AB12 5NX Dates: 12th Feb -& 12th March Times: 7:30 - 9:00 Cost: £5.00 per person per session Contact: 01224 636128 for more info.

Postnatal Pilates Classes Classes run by physiotherapist specifically trained to deliver safe and effective Pilates exercises for postnatal ladies. Held at Wallace Practice, 25 Craigton Road. Tel:316488 for more info.

Aberdeen Patchwork & Quilting Telephone number to be included: 01224 310379 Meet monthly group consists 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 Follow us on Facebook at aberdeenquilters or email: aberdeenquiltersgroup@gmail.com

Ever fancied trying a different kind of church? Here is your chance. ‐ at Holburn West Church ‐ Sun 3rd Mar, 5th May and 2nd June ‐ contact Gill Redman (316531) for more information

Grampian Symptoms Study Have you had a sore throat, chest pain or a persistent cough in the last two weeks?

If so, and you are aged over 18, Alison Thornton a University of Aberdeen health researcher would like to hear from you.

She aims to find out more about how people think about their symptoms and what they do about them. They are interested in speaking to people whether or not they have sought medical advice.

The researcher needs to talk to you about your symptoms and to complete two short

questionnaires. It should take less than an hour either in your own home or at the Foresterhill campus.

It is important that people remember that this is a research study, Alison is not qualified to give medical advice. Around 45 volunteers are needed and the team are looking to include a wide variety of people – men and women of different ages and from all walks of life.

Contact : 01224 437216 or email ajthornton@abdn.ac.uk An information pack will be sent telling you more about the study. Alison would also like to hear from any community groups who would be willing for her to come and tell them more about the study.

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59

community clubs & groups

parent and toddler groups Mannofield Mother & Toddlers 10-1130am Mon for children aged 0-3. 10- 130am Wed for children aged 0-3.

10-11.30am Fris for children aged 0-3. Mannofield Church, Gt Western Rd All welcome - friendly, sociable groups Holburn West Mothers & Toddlers Meet on a Wed fm 0930 & Fri fm 9.45am Parent and Toddler Group Wed (not school hols) fm 9.45 - 11.15 Rubislaw church centre, beaconsfield pl NCT Bumps and Babies Queens Cross Church,Thurs fm 2 - 4pm ‘Toots’ Playgroup Airyhall Community centre 2’s Group 1 ½ to 2 ½ - Tues & Thurs 9.30 to 11.30 Playgroup 2 ½ onwards – Mon, Wed & Fri 9.30 – 11.30am Holburn West Playgroup Meet on a Wed fm 930am Babies andToddlers Mon 0945-1200 Crown Terr Methodist Church Friendly group for parents/carers of children aged 0-3 Cost £1 incl refreshments. 861209/733276 or 01330 823480 e-mail: babiesand toddlers@aberdeenmethodist.org.uk Midstocket Playgroup, Midstocket Parish Church, Harcourt Rd. 2.5 - 5 year olds. Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri 09.15 - 11.45, Mon,Tues,Thurs 13.00- 15.30. Funded places available. Tel. 07542 256703 www.midstocketplaygroup.co.uk Rubislaw Playgroup Playgroup: Rubislaw Church Centre. Mon to Fri 9:15-11:45; from 30 mths to school age. Funded places available. Call 07747 830386 b/n 9:30 & 12:15 or email rubislawplaygroup@hotmail.co.uk Toddlers and 2s: Rubislaw Church Centre. Enjoy play, craft, singing and snack.

Toddlers: Up to 2 yrs; Wed 9:30-11:30 2s Group: 2 to 3 yrs; Tues 9:30-11:30. Call 07747 830386 b/n 9:30 & 12:15 or email rubislawplaygroup@hotmail.co.uk/ Messy Play Rubislaw Church Centre. Enjoy messy play for ages 2 to 5. Wed & Fri 1:15-3pm.

Call 07747 830386 b/n 9:30 & 12:15 or email rubislawplaygroup@hotmail. co.uk/ Kids Crew Playgroup.2yrs 8mnths. Mon, Wed, Fri mornings 9.30am-12pm. Funded Places available. + Two’s Group.Wed, Thurs 9.30-11am. Both groups at Ferryhill Community Centre, Albury Road, Ferryhill. Tel : 584118.

Playgroup @ Ruthrieston Comm Centre ‘Playshed’, Holburn St Mon-Thurs 9.15-11.15. fm 2 yrs 6 mnths. £3.50 per session includes healthy snack. Call 572211 Children’s Football Tel Alison - 314669 Football for children fm age 21/2 up to P3. Held at Kingswells and Airyhall. www.aberdeenfootballfun.co.uk NCT Waddling - Toddling Mon @ St Francis of Assisi Church, Deeside Dr, Mannofield 10-11.30, drop in group for mums to be, parents & carers of babies & toddlers birth - preschool www.nct.org. uk/in-your-area/aberdeen/W2T

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Queen’s Cross Parent & Toddler Group Queens Cross Church Mon 9.30-11.30 Children 0-4 & their grown-ups are very welcome. £1.50 Gaelic Parent & Child Group Gilcomstoun Primary School Mon, Wed & Fri 9.15-11.30. You don’t have to speak Gaelic. Mairi Morley 07900 337122, e : gaelic@aberdeencity.gov.uk.

Singing Tots 6mths - 3 yrs Mon 945-1015 & 1045 -1115 Rubislaw Church Centre phone or text : 07745 924449 info@singingtots.org /www.singingtots.org Toddler Time : Wed 09:15–11:15 term time. Friendly, welcoming group for parents & children aged 0-4. Cost 50 pence, inc snacks & refreshments New Life International Church, Leadside Road, AB25 1TW Michelle - 07808 932 907 Ruthrieston West Church Twos Group Fri 9.45 - 11.00 ( During term time) Age 1year 10 months + £2.50 per child per session. For more information phone Lynne on 01224 314692 Teeny Beats Fun singalong with musical instruments. Meets on a Wednesday 2pm - 3pm during term time at Rubislaw Church Centre. For children aged 0 to 5 years. £2 per session discounted rate for additional children. Further info contact Jenni Dalziel 07835852389, jennidalziel@live.co.uk The 123 Group, Craigiebuckler Church Hall, Every Thurs 2-4pm, Adult and Child group; children fm babies up to the age of 3 are all welcome. £8 per month, with lots of fun activities, crafts and healthy snacks provided for the children. email the123group@yahoo. com, or call Pamela Morrison 07762481757 Aberdeen Dolphin Swimming Club Swim School for children fm 4 years old. Lessons at Hazlehead & Hazlewood Pools.

Coaching for children who would like to train and swim competitively. Contact Louise Lindsay (membership secretary) on 596709 South Holburn Church Parent and Toddler Group E-mail: fmdfindon@aol.com Parents with babies and toddlers aged 0 - 3 are invited to join us to meet other parents ove a cup of tea or coffee and play with your child in a welcoming, child-friendly setting. Thursday mornings 9.15 - 11.15am. during school terms.

Grampian Twins club A voluntary group for parents of multiples, get together on the last Friday of every month at St Francis of Assisi church, 213 Deeside Gardens AB15 7PR. There for you during pregnancy and beyond for advice, support and a great way to meet other multiple mums in the city and shire area. www. grampiantwinsclub.co.uk Jo Jingles Music and Movement leanne.jojingles@tiscali.co.uk 07595452621 Fun and educational music classes monday/tuesday/thursday @ city centre and Wynford farm www. jojingles.com/aberdeen Rhythm Time Tel: 07716593828 Discover the magic of music! Multi-sensory music classes for newborn - 36 mnths. Classes in Cults and Ruthrie Terrace, Aberdeen. Thurs (Cults) Toddler 1.30pm, Baby 2.10pm. Fri (Ruthrie Terr) Toddler 9.30am, Baby 10.10am & 10.50am. Book a FREE trial class, call or email: rhythmtimeaberdeen@gmail.com

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Girls Brigade : Meet Tues in Queens Cross Church Hall Explorers P1-3 : 5pm-6.30pm Juniors P4-7 : 6pm-7.30pm Brigaders S1-6 : 6pm-8pm Morag Pirie - 01358-742621 Girls Brigade : Are you in P1-P3? Looking for some fun? Then come and join us we meet every Thurs @ South Holburn Church, Holburn St. Tel : Lesley Bills - 01224-596596 Rainbows, Brownies, Guides tel : 01224 638685 for your nearest group Beavers, Cubs, Scouts : tel : 01224 208426 for your nearest group Boys Brigade HQ : tel : 01224 644400 for your nearest group 17th Aberdeen Cub Scouts : Thurs @ 1800h Scout Hall, Ruthrie Terr Tel Jacqui Duncan : 07703 435 251 or email : jacqui4bs@hotmail.co.uk Choi Kwang Do : Inchgarth Community Centre Garthdee Mond 4.45-5.45 Thurs 6-7pm Tel Claire - 746778 After School Bridge classes : Wed at The Bridge Club 14 Rubislaw Terrace P6-7 - Anytime fm 3.00-4.30.

S1-6 - Anytime fm 3.00-5.30, Sally Reid :322719 ATC 107 Squadron Open to new members, male & female aged 13 – 16. Also looking for enthusiastic adult staff, male & female to join the team., Prince Charles Cadet Centre, Albury Road, Ferryhill, Aberdeen Mon & Weds 19.00 - 21.30.

Tel. 01224 590679 www.107aircadets.org.

Highland Dancing Classes Highland Classes are available at Craigiebuckler Church and Danscentre through Carolanne Sinclair . Open to all levels of experience, with beginners classes starting at aged 5 & over. Contact Carolanne directly on 07972104774 or by email at sinclair_carolanne@yahoo.com Mannofield Church on Wed afternoons.

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community clubs & groups

kids groups

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Fun Kids Yoga Airyhall Community Centre Tues 4-4.30pm (4-7 yrs) & 4.30-5pm (8-13 yrs) Call 07967 647 220 or go to www.louisayoga.co.uk Youth Hockey Coaching Tuesday evenings 5.45pm-7.00pm from September to March for or children from P4 to S4. Coaching provided by Gordonians Hockey Club at RGC astroturf pitches on Countesswells Road. Children from all schools are welcome. More details are available at www.gordonianshockey.com GCW Hockey Club Fun sessions for all At Rubislaw Astroturf Thurs 6.30 – 7.30 pm Youth for age 10+ 7.15 – 9pm Adults Contact coach@gcwhc.co.uk 32nd Aberdeen Anchor Boys If you’re in P1, 2 or 3 and want to take part in lots of fun activities, come and join us in Craigiebuckler Church Hall on Thursday evenings 6-7.15pm.

Tel: Sarah 317827 Airyhall Choral Ensemble ACE Juniors and ACE Seniors. Both groups meet at the Airyhall Community Centre on Fridays, Juniors meet at 3.30pm & Seniors at 4.30pm. Cost: £28 per pupil for a term of eight classes. http://tutorsalliance.co.uk/Music-Lessons.php

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LEARN ITALIAN

New Absolute Beginners Class

in Cults – Aberdeen Thursdays 7.30-9.30pm Fridays 2.00–4.00 pm enrica.conti@tiscali.co.uk

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Piano Teacher M: 078901 48059 E: fionapianotutor@live.co.uk Fully Qualified and Experienced : • Grade 8 Distinction • DIP.MUS.ED. R.S.A.M.D.

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Postnatal Pilates Classes Tel: 316488 for more info Held at Wallace Practice, 25 Craigton Road.

Classes run by physiotherapist specifically trained to deliver safe and effective Pilates exercises for postnatal ladies.

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Magical Entertainment M: 07774 641230 E: dwgoulding@gmail.com Add some magic to all of your events.

• Magic • Thought Reading • Escapology Contact: Dave Goulding www.thinkingofit.co.uk

Guitar Tuition M: 07745 953 963

Keep Fit, the Fun Way, the Swedish Way

Electric/Acoustic Lessons.

6 String + Bass Guitars.

Pop/Rock/Finger pick methods.

One 2 one tuition.

Graham Hendry Guitar Tuition, 6 Forest Road.

Wednesday: 6pm-7pm Inchgarth Community Centre, Garthdee All round body workout to lively music – just turn up!

Compu-Care

Call Neil 07539-462-064 PC Repairs and Upgrades Aberdeen based. Collect and return service.

New systems available. £15 ph standard pc repairs. £25ph networking/ internet.

Reflexology

Contact: Anne-Marie Fegen(RGN,MAR) 07803 505 827 01224 732677

Simple way to healing practicing from home and Kippie Lodge.

Vouchers available

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