Lifestyle Magazine - January 2017 by Lifestyle Magazine

ALWAYS FREE

JA N U A R Y 2 017

WIN

Y ERR AY B R O r OF M Liqueu TTLE sed N A BO ruit Infu in L:GI F OF E cottish G E L T S T d O tille AB O h Dis R TW Batc ll R a A FO chabers E Sm T M PE o HIGH tie’s of F Y HA R E ris BAK U at Ch AND BIJO GH L I NE H O AT S ’ W PAG N T OR LEA HAM F C C A H E C M G s LUN INTA ome OF V veron H E L T e T D A BO from

FA S H I O N | M U S I C | F O O D & D R I N K T R A V E L | E N V I R O N M E N T | A R T S & C U LT U R E

Modern Living Country Style

Strathisla Park Keith | AB55 5JS

The Braeval

New home in 2017 Thinking about how you’re going to buy your own home? Whether it’s your first home, or you’re hoping to move up to a larger home. We can help you find the key to a brighter future. Come and speak directly to the experts.

Prices from £115,950 - £242,950 Showhome Open: Thursday - Monday I 11am - 5pm Call: 01592 880117 / 07876 413723 For further information email: sales@deveronhomes.co.uk

The Macallan

£242,950 King-size 4 bed bungalow Ready Jan 2017 95% mortgages available YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTSON YOUR MORTGAGE OR ANY OTHER LOAN SECURED ON IT. See website for details, subject to contract and status.

DEVERON homes

Nestled in the foothills of The Balloch, Strathisla Park, Keith is all about being part of a lively community abuzz with energy. A place where there’s always an open invitation to connect with neighbours, friends and nature.

THE KEY TO A BRIGHTER FUTURE . . . The development offers a wide range of 2, 3 and 4 bedroom bungalows, villas and starter homes. These spacious residences highlight fresh, new designs and exciting interiors, with open-plan dining kitchens, generous master suites and king-size plots that effortlessly invite views of the surrounding landscape. Currently on release are The Macallan, a king-size 4 bed detached bungalow on a large south facing plot. Priced at £242,950 this plot comes complete with a garden makeover package. Meanwhile for first timers there’s a superb range of 2 and 3 bedroom starter homes with prices from £115,950. What’s more, by using Help To Buy, buyers could move into a brand new 2 bed villa with a mortgage deposit of just £5,800.

Prices at Strathisla Park start from £115,950 to £242,950. The Strathisla showhome is open: Thursday - Monday: 11am - 5pm

For more information: visit www.deveronhomes.co.uk.

DEVERON homes

Dear all...

Creative

Printers

Let me wish all of our readers and advertisers a very

Alistair Davidson

Graham Payne

Happy & Prosperous New Year. I suppose when the

Tamsyn Dickson

Graeme Donaldson

excesses of the season wear off, or start to, we will all

Adam Thomas

Chris Leil

embark at, some time, to do some digital shopping. While

Jeff Ho

we know prices will be good we should stop and think

David Banks

about our local businesses. When you wanted a bottle of

Rebecca Beaton

gin or a pack of headache tablets, did you dive for the

Donna Cowie

internet as your saviour? No. Why? Because by the time it

Sales Rhona Patterson

arrived the party was over or you no longer had a headache. So turning to your local business was your saviour. Well, if we don't support local businesses they will not be there. Also you have someone to talk to and advise

Finishing Leza Stuart Fyona Duncan Emma Fraser

rhona@mms-publishing.scot

Pre Press Editorial Tamsyn Dickson

Lynn Stuart

Production Controller Margaret Stuart

Proofing Penny Brown

you. A few years ago I had to purchase a new washing machine and went to a local store in Keith. I picked a state of the art machine only for the owner to come over and ask me a few questions then recommend a machine £145 cheaper, that was at 10am. By 12.30pm the machine was delivered and installed with all packaging and the old machine removed - and all on a Saturday. Where can you get that kind of service? The internet? I don't think so. So please make SUPPORT LOCAL your new year’s resolution for 2017.

Colin

Elgin, Moray IV30 1XY. Tel: 01343 55 1234 All material within this magazine is subject to formal copyright restrictions and therefore the reproduction of any listings, editorial, advertising artwork or any other content, without the publisher’s prior consent, will be

Colin Brown, Publisher

moray 4

MMS Almac Ltd, Unit 6, Tyock Industrial Estate,

considered a breach of copyright.

content Burning the Clavie ...................................................6 Most expensive Hotels ........................................11 Focus on Damian Connell .................................20 Modern Communication ....................................24 Wrong Lyrics...........................................................32 Winters Walk - Fashion........................................34 Cool as Ice - Fashion ...........................................36 Ice Climbing ...........................................................39 Ian Bashford Artist................................................45 To be a Man ...........................................................48 Million Dollar Speed Machine ..........................52 Bunny Chow...........................................................56 SHY and D.R.S .......................................................58 Mike Ray Nature ...................................................64 The Ghillie...............................................................68 Just Jorgie............................................................... 71 Potoo ........................................................................ 74 Felix........................................................................... 77 This Month’s Competitions el:gin & Moray Berry............................................23 Maclean’s Hamper............................................... 31 SHY and D.R.S CD................................................63 Bijou Lunch for 2 .................................................. 78 Deveron Vintage Champagne.......................... 81 Christie’s High Tea for 2 ..................................... 81

mora 5

BY FRED TREY

THE BURNING OF THE

Wellies on, hood up, gloves, hat, scarf - check, check,

Samhain is thought to be a time when the

check. Inconceivably heavy offspring perched on

boundary between the worlds was very thin with

shoulders? Check. 10 days of broken New Years’

spirits and demons able to flit between the two. In

Resolutions behind you and re-tox in full flow? Yup.

the North, young men would patrol the bounda-

Good! Time for Hogmanay round 2…

ries of their land with flaming torches to protect

Scotland has its fair share of ritualistic fire-based

their families from mischievous faeries and

ceremonies with their purifying mythology, from the

demons that were free to roam at will.

burning of the Wickerman, now immortalised by a

In 1750, the Julian calendar was reformed and, in

rock festival where an effigy is burned in homage to

amongst the bureaucratic machinations surround-

the ancient pagan practice of alleged human sacrifice;

ing the introduction of the Gregorian calendar, in

Lerwick’s Up Helly-Aa Viking fire festival on Orkney

1752, 11 days were carelessly misplaced. There

and the fireball ceremony in Stonehaven.

was outrage! People felt they had been unfairly

Since the invention of fire we have used it to celebrate

aged by 11 days through no fault of their own

and commemorate; it purifies, protects, warms, boils

and who had fed the cat in those missing days?

the kettle. There are mid-Winter bonfires at Newton

Had the milk gone off? Had their boss noticed?

Stewart, Dingwall, Invergordon, Campbeltown, Biggar

Whilst the peasants revolted around the rest of

and Comrie, there are boat burning ceremonies in

Britain, the resilient and inventive Brochers of

coastal fishing towns and villages and processions like

Burghead simply stuck two fingers up to the new

Burghead’s Burning of the Clavie.

system and had two parties, December 31st and

The Celts would originally celebrate the turning of the

January 11th.

seasons with bonfire festivals; two of these, Samhain

“What could be nicer”, they must have thought,

and Beltane were considered to be male, whilst

after almost two weeks of sobriety and puritanical

Imbolc and Lughnasadh were thought as female. Each

living, “than another nice knees-up?”

festival lasted three days, a day either side of the

The Clavie that is used to welcome in the new

‘official’ day.

year is a barrel full of peat and wood which is set 7

Valentine’s day. There is perpetual frozen drizzle, our jobs have lost so much sparkle they now actually absorb light and, here is the rub, the majority of people feel this melancholy collectively, at the same time. It's endemic (or pandemic, I forget which and am too miserable to bother looking it up). Enviable 'swimmers against the tide' burst from their homes on the first day of January, clad in the tightest primary coloured, fluorescent fabrics, determined that this is their year to regain the vigour of youth, and why not? They have every alight and carried aloft on the shoulders of the

right to, just as I have every right to sit in the dark

‘Clavie Crew’ who are always locals, historically

and eat crisps until I see a daffodil.

fishermen, then paraded through the town led by

I mean it. I read an unattributable quote last year

the ‘Clavie King’ to be placed on the site of the old

from the nameless masses which read “to all you

fort on Doorie Hill where it is fixed in place and fed

gym bunnies, tutting and rolling your eyes at the

until the whole hill is ablaze. It is then allowed to

new influx of chubby members to your precious

burn out. Locals eventually collect the remains in

gym – you didn't see us doing it in December when

the forms of burning embers and take them home

we temporarily let you into our pubs did you?”

to add to their hearth, a practise which is thought

So, whilst friends and co-workers are spending the

to bring good fortune for the year ahead, so much

longest month of the year drinking smoothies,

so they are often sent to friends and relatives of

juices and detox soup, hating the fact that they

the locals who have moved away.

have joined yet another pointless and unattended

Whilst the festival was likely practised in many

gym and becoming more and more miserable with

other towns and villages around the North, it was

each passing day - have cheer in your heart. What

outlawed in 1704 by the Presbyterian lawmakers of

better way to endure January than to wrap up, grab

the time for being “an abominable heathenish

a hip flask and some unhealthy snacks and get out

practice”, drawing, as it may, from the various

into the cold night for a bit of fire-based revelry -

cultures that Burghead has been home to; from

and extend the festive season by 11 days.

the Picts to the Celts, the Vikings and possibly even the Romans. And anyway, January is too long, no one likes it, it’s just not welcome. Everyone has increased levels of anxiety and self-loathing after too much booze, the days are too short without the nice pre-Christmas coziness and it’s cold and rainy. We have a God-given right to walk around with a face like a bag full of spanners. It's January for crying out loud! At the 57th parallel! The only celebration to look forward to is the saccharine sweetness of 8

VISIT

Glen fi d d i c h Distillery Speyside

Visit The Glenfiddich Distillery in Dufftown, Speyside to enjoy a tour, shop for handcrafted gifts or relax with a warming meal or drink in the Glenfiddich Malt Barn Café and Bar Open daily 7 days from January 2nd Visitor Centre

Providing a range of tours with masterclass whisky tastings

Luxury Gift Shop

Beautiful handcrafted giftware and exclusive whiskies

Stylish Malt Barn Café and Bar Delicious hot drinks, light meals and cakes plus the world’s largest pouring collection of Glenfiddich whiskies

JOIN US IN THE GLENFIDDICH MALT BARN ON JANUARY 24TH ‘Night Afore’ Alternative Burns Supper

Our beautiful Malt Barn Cafe and Bar will play host to rising Canadian folk star Carly Dow as part of a special evening celebration featuring a bistro-style Burns supper. Start time - 7.00pm, Tickets - £30 (Ticket price includes 3-course set menu and entertainment) Please book early to avoid disappointment For more details and to reserve your place call 01340 820 373 or email glenfiddichbookings@wgrant.com

THE GLENFIDDICH DISTILLERY Tel: 01340 820373 • www.glenfiddich.com SKILFULLY CRAFTED, ENJOY RESPONSIBLY

LA CAVERNA

Tynet Buckie

TEA TIME SPECIAL

FISH SUPPER TEA

SPECIAL JANUARY OFFER

Book your Wedding before 30th January 2017

ALL VENUES

BOOK YOUR

PRIVATE PARTY SELECTION OF MENUS AVAILABLE

20% DISCOUNT ON BOOKINGS MADE DURING JANUARY 2017

ALL VENUES

PACKAGE 1

PACKAGE 2

50 Guest Wedding Meal 120 Evening Buffet Full drinks Package* Hall Hire FREE Honeymoon Suite

75 Guest Wedding Meal 150 Evening Buffet Full drinks Package* Hall Hire FREE Honeymoon Suite

£3 ,0 00

WITH STICKY TOFFEE PUDDING, TEA/COFFEE

TIPSY TEA PARTIES

Limited dates available, book early to avoid disapointment

16 Rooms available for guests 01542 850395

*Arrival and Toast Drink and wine with meal.

(ask about our special rates)

FOR YOUR DIARY 2017

January February March April

Guidi’s

Pizzeria, Italian Tapas Bar & Ice Cream Parlour 20 Clifton Rd, Lossiemouth 01343 815 944

£4 ,5 00

£10.50

18 Clifton Rd, Lossiemouth 01343 815 944

CHARITY

Dinner Casino Night & Disco Saturday 11th to Tuesday 14th

Special Valentine’s Dinner Sunday 26th

Mother’s Day Lunch Saturday 8th

Grand National Ladies Day Sunday 16th

Easter Sunday Lunch

Caverna

1629

The

Pizzeria, Ristorante & Bistro

Moray’s No.1 Continental & Seafood Restaurant

20 Clifton Rd, Lossiemouth 01343 813 027

20 Clifton Rd, Lossiemouth 01343 813 743

For futher information you can find us on the web at: www.the1629co.uk • www.millhousehotel.com or email us at: 1629restaurant@btconnect.com • info@millhousehotel.com

hOtels The World’s Most Expensive Hotel Suites... Ever wanted to take a peek inside some of the world’s most expensive hotel rooms? Places usually reserved only for the eyes of the rich and famous where marble covered bathrooms are bigger than the average house? These suites can command rates upwards of £24,000 per night, with private lifts, butlers and concierges. Here are some of the world’s most expensive digs.

a lo

S hall

we ta ke

ok?

Grand Penthouse Suite The Mark Hotel - New York, USA

Currently the world’s most expensive hotel suite, it’s is also the biggest hotel penthouse in the USA. Spread over two floors, the suite has five bedrooms, six bathrooms, a dining room that can seat 24 and a living room with seven metre high ceilings that can be converted into a full-size grand ballroom. For dining, guests have access to 24-hour room service from The Mark Restaurant that is operated by three-Michelin-starred chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten. There’s an in-suite hair styling salon and around the clock suit tailoring from Bergdorf Goodman. A private elevator takes guests to a rooftop terrace with breathtaking views over the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Central Park.

AVE RA PER GE PRI C NIG HT E

£79, 000 SQU ARE ME 1115

TRE S

Ty Warner Penthouse Suite Four Seasons Hotel - New York, USA

Soaring 200 metres above Manhattan, guests have unobstructed views over the city with four cantilevered glass balconies and large single-paned windows. Designed by legendary architects Peter Marino and I.M. Pei, the penthouse features original works by international artists, decorated with 18th century Japanese silk cushions and a library with hundreds of volumes on art and culture. A 24-hour personal butler, a Rolls-Royce chauffeur and a personal trainer are on offer to its guests.

AVE RA PER GE PRI C NIG HT E

ÂŁ54, 000 SQU ARE ME 400

TRE S

Royal Penthouse Suite Hotel President Wilson - Geneva, Switzerland

Previously the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most expensive hotel suite before being overtaken by The Mark Hotel last year, the Royal Penthouse Suite has attracted big-name guests including Bill Clinton, Michael Jackson, Richard Branson and Bill Gates. The suite has panoramic views over Lake Geneva and the Swiss Alps with 12 palatial bedrooms all with marble bathrooms, a Steinway grand piano, a dining room that seats up to 26 guests and a collection of ancient books and artwork. A private lift gives guests direct access to the suite.

AVE RA PER GE PRI C NIG HT E

ÂŁ52, 000 SQU ARE ME 1680 TRES

Delana Hilltop Estate Laucala Island Resort - Laucala Island, Fiji

Owned by the co-founder of Red Bull, Dietrich Mateschitz, this spectacular hilltop residence sits high up in the hills of Laucala Island. Surrounded by lush tropical rainforest and offering unobstructed views over the ocean, it has its own swimming pool and two guest residences. A private chef, chauffeur and nanny are also included for guests.

AVE RA PER GE PRI C NIG HT E

ÂŁ49, PLU 0 S 25 00 % SQU TAX ARE M 1200 ETRES

Shangri La Suite Suite Shangri La Bosphorus - Istanbul, Turkey

Located on the top floor of the hotel, the suite offers spectacular views over the Bosphorus Strait. It has three private terraces, a dining room, living room, two bedroom suites with a bed linen thread count of 800, and marble clad bathroom with Bulgari toiletries.

AVE RA PER GE PRI C NIG HT E

ÂŁ31, 000 SQU ARE ME 366

TRE S

Royal Suite Hotel Plaza Athenee - Paris, France

Decorated with French regency furniture dating from Louis XV and Louis XVI periods, this lavish suite has four bedrooms, four bathrooms and balconies offering spectacular views of the Eiffel Tower and the famous Avenue Montaigne.

AVE RA PER GE PRI C NIG HT E

Â£24, 000 SQU ARE ME 450

TRE S

Welcome to

Alston sofas

One of Moray’s little gems located in Sandy’s Carpets, 13 High St, Buckie. Where good quality, value for money and customer service is first and foremost. With such brands as Cintique, Alston’s, Sealy and Healthbeds you can depend on and enjoy. Forty Winks was founded by Brian 8 years

Sealy beds

ago and with 30 years of experience, he has built up a reputable name for himself.

Free Delivery Within A 60 Mile Radius Mark Webster Dinning

Edge Sculptures

13 High Street, Buckie, AB56 1AL • Tel: 01542 839800 Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm • Saturday 9am - 4pm

Starts 5th of January and continues throughout the month

Offers up to

50%off stock items within the store and 20%off all orders taken.

FOCUS ON

damian connell I was introduced to photography one Christmas with a

to prevent light leaking in. It’s all too easy to lose a

present of a tiny plastic Kodak pocket Instamatic

whole day in the darkroom.

camera. I still remember as a ten year old in the Yorkshire dales photographing a waterfall, but it wasn’t until my late teens when my girlfriend at the time showed me that there was art in photography, and with

But the pressures of studying for a degree, and subsequently a move to Leeds to study for a PhD meant that my beloved SLR took residence in a cupboard from where it rarely came out.

the loan of her interchangeable lens Kodak Retina I was hooked. I read photography books avidly, and resolved that when I had the funds I would buy myself a single lens reflex camera and take things seriously. I had tried drawing and sculpture, but never felt that I had the ability to be as creative as I’d wished.

Towards the end of millennium the first digital SLRs came out. I was by now working as a data analyst and software engineer, and the prospect of being able to manipulate images on computer rather than in the darkroom was immediately appealing. However the costs to enter this world were prohibitively expensive.

Contrary to the usual story, luck was on my side, and on

So like many at the time I spent my money on one of

my 20th birthday one of my two premium bonds came

the early digital point and shoot cameras (costing as

up with a prize, and I had just enough money to

much then as a modern SLR does today). I loved the

purchase a second hand Ricoh. Thereafter every spare

immediacy of seeing the images on screen, but felt

penny went into funding my obsession (well, apart from

hampered by the lack of control, always wishing to get

the usual student recreational needs).

back to the creativity provided by an SLR, but reticent

Living and studying in Liverpool I found myself drawn to the docks, documenting the demolition and decay as

about returning to the chemical smells of a cramped and dark bathroom.

the city was transformed during the ravages of the late

It was shortly after this time that I was made redundant;

1980s. Also, as I was studying ecology I was naturally

a victim of the bursting of the dotcom bubble, and while

drawn to nature as a subject. I primarily worked in black

taking stock of what I should do next I came to realise

and white, developing and printing my own photographs

that the diabetes I had suffered with since I was

in a temporarily converted bathroom, blackout curtain at

diagnosed at 21 years old was now beginning to take

the window, towel crammed along the edge of the door

it’s toll on my health. I spent a considerable time

focussed on improving my health, even to the

my enthusiasm for photography throughout most of my

point of statistical analysis of my blood/glucose

life has developed me into a competent photographer.

readings. It paid off, and I took control of the

Images are as important to us as they ever were.

problem, but I had been out of work for a while,

Business can emphasise brand and promote products

and had come to realise that the urban lifestyle

through high quality photography. So I came to the

with itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s longer working hours and long commutes

decision that I should make use of those hard earned

was not helping my problems. So I moved north to

skills and become a commercial and product photogra-

Moray, with happy memories of having holidayed

pher, specialising in the needs of business in and

here as a child. The clean air and unspoiled

around Moray. Morayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s strengths are its small to

countryside were in such contrast to the hassle of

medium creative and innovative businesses, and my

suburban life.

goal is to provide high quality eye catching imagery with

Then about 5 years ago the urge to take up photography seriously again could no longer be

attention to detail to meet customer requirements and wishes.

resisted. I still had some old Pentax fit lenses, and when I discovered they were still usable on a modern camera, took the plunge and bought a new Pentax dSLR. My determination to learn as much as quickly as possible returned stronger than ever. I had read a fairly hefty text book from cover to cover, and a digital copy of the manual at least twice before the courier even arrived with the camera. Not content with just reading and learning in isolation I needed to talk to like minded people, and soak up all the knowledge I could, so I joined Moray Camera Club. The club has been a tremendous inspiration to me, helping me develop my photography beyond what I had done all those years ago with film. It is through the club that I have come to realise I have developed a distinctive style. Fast forward to a couple of months ago and I again find my job has been made redundant. Moray is not a county of bleeding edge high tech industry, and I worry that there is little call for my skills as a statistician, or my ability to process and analyse huge volumes of digital data. But adversity sometimes brings opportunity. Without realising it

This monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s front cover by Damian Connell

Cockt Recipail e 1

Cockt Recipail e 2

5:13

Moray Berry Crush

Serve over ice in a tall glass with flamed citrus peel

Blend together & serve in a martini glass with a sugar frosted rim

WIN

50ml el:gin 25ml Apple Schnapps 75ml Ginger ale a few drops lemon juice

a bottle of el:gin email the word ‘gin’ to tamsyn@mmspublishing.scot by Tues, 31st Jan.

50ml Moray Berry 2 strawberries • 2 raspberries Dash lemon 50ml sugar syrup

a bottle of Moray Berry email the word ‘cocktail’ to tamsyn@mmspublishing.scot by Tues, 31st Jan.

The el:gin team would like to thank everyone for their support in 2016 and we all look forward to making 2017 even more exciting! Thank you all and happy New Year 23

Picture the scene...

A couple walk hand in hand into a busy cafe. They

perhaps and most definitely a pleasurable and relaxing

order their drinks and a delicious afternoon treat, find

way to spend an afternoon with the one you love.

a table and settle down. They smile at each other

Now, let's change one word in that whole scenario; just

fondly and each reaches in to their respective bags

one small, insignificant word. But what if I was to tell you

and takes out a book, before settling back comfortably

that by simply exchanging one small word, with another

to read. The next time they communicate with each

of equal insignificance, we would flip the image of this

other is when they put away their books, finish their

cosy act into something that had potential to illicit

last mouthfuls of cake and take their leave.

disdain and, dare I say it, even a tut or two from a large

Sounds wonderful, doesn't it? Positively romantic

portion of society.

So what literal magic trick could I possibly play that would change a vision of such contented peacefulness into something worthy of judgement and disgust? Well it's simple, we will swap the word "book" for "phone". A couple walk hand in hand into a busy cafe. They order their drinks and a delicious afternoon treat, find a table and settle down. They smile at each other fondly and each reaches in to their respective bags and takes out a phone, before settling back comfortably to read. The next time they communicate with each other is when they put away their phones, finish their last mouthfuls of cake and take their leave.

Woah, they did what?

What is it about the modern mobile device that elicits such disparagement? I don't think a day goes past without a Facebook friend sharing a post showing a photo of a group of immobile and robotic people (normally those pesky "youths") sat around with their heads buried in their beloved mobile devices, completely oblivious to the world turning around them. And what about those oh so cuddly comparative recollections of wholesome activities carried out "when I was young", which include the delights of jumping in puddles, kicking through leaves and skinning our knees whilst riding our bikes with our best friends.

“What was the point of them even leaving the house,

What is it about the mobile phone that seems to

if all they are going to do is sit there and stare at their

imply inactivity, rudeness and solitude? Why does

phones the whole time.” “How rude!” “Why would you

such a short, simple word herald the end of

want to spend the whole time on your phone when you

civilisation as we know it?

are in company, especially if that person is important

In "my day" we teenagers came home from school

to you?” “It’s ridiculous, nobody simply talks to each

and immediately disappeared into our rooms. We

other anymore”.

put the record player on and flicked through the

Any of that sound familiar?

latest edition of our favourite magazine before our parents finally demanded we appear at the dinner

And all because of that one word. Phone.

table, where we mumbled our way through our meal,

But why? It’s always confused me why it’s frowned upon

before being excused back to our lair. These days,

to be using your phone in company, yet reading a book

my teenager disappears up to her room, puts on her

and disappearing into a world created by someone else

Spotify play list and flicks through Tumblr or Reddit

is somehow acceptable?

until we shout her down for dinner,

My husband and I are often "that" couple who are on

where she mumbles her way

their phones for an entire lunch, only chatting

through her dinner before

occasionally to ask a question, share something we

legging it back to her den.

have read or pass on a message from a mutual friend.

When I went round to

Or we may not speak to each other at all and remain

a friend's house, we sat

totally engrossed on our screens. But why frown at us?

around a table and

Why not frown at the couple on the table next to us,

talked about the

who have done nothing but stare in to the distance and hardly utter a word? Or the couple opposite, sipping tea around the edges of their respective newspapers?

game of Battleships, Monopoly or Cluedo we were playing. When my daughter's friends come round they put the on X Box and talk about the multi-player RPGs (role playing games) they are playing together. If I wanted to chat with a friend, I phoned and spent the whole call being shouted at for running up a bill and tying up the phone line. Of course, that friend would only be local, so the line "I am sure it's nothing that can't wait until you see each other at school tomorrow" usually sent me back to my room with unspoken words never to be remembered. If my daughter wants to chat to a friend, she messages them until they both either get bored or find something else to do, and these days that friend could literally be anywhere in the world. Then I reached the dizzy heights of adulthood and joined

the commuting masses on the London Underground,

world where people never needed to speak to each

where I learnt the art of newspaper origami to ward off

other again; a world where we all sat in a

unwelcome chit chat and any meteorological discussion.

self-contained technical bubble, muscles wasting

I also mastered the skill of one-handed book reading,

away, whilst we focus purely on what is on our screen

and the ability to repeatedly study one page for the

in front of us; oblivious to the cute cries of a pining

duration of a stop, to avoid staring directly into

robot looking for his one true love. We are quite

someone's armpit (or worse)! On a recent visit to

clearly doomed! Or are we? (At this point I feel I

London, I will admit to twinges of envy as I watched

should point out that these musings relate merely to

commuters casually swiping screens, rubbing their weary

the art of conversation and not the over reliance on

eyes without double checking for black, print-smudged

gadgets as opposed to getting out and exercising â&#x20AC;&#x201C;

fingers. Even one-handed reading is no longer limited to

thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a whole other article which would, more than

a one page loop feed.

likely, find me on the other team).

A Wall-e warning!

How are things different?

I could list example after example of how our

Certainly our pre-mobile family outings were different,

conversational behaviour hasn't changed, rather just the

but I don't think they were necessarily better. Yes, we

method of doing it, but would that convince those

talked, but our conversations were generally defined

determined to blame the evil mobile device?

by the limitations of our own varying particular fields

Obviously, the Internet was the beginning of the end of

of expertise, with promises to look things up when we

civilisation and the invention of mobile devices only

got home. Nowadays the world is literally at our finger

hastened our descent into a world of character counts

tips and nearly every conversation involves a quick

and pixels. Even Disney saw fit to warn us of our

"Google" to find out appropriate facts, photos or

impending peril with the film WALL-E and predicted a

anecdotes. To onlookers, we would probably seem

very unsociable, when in fact we are likely to be sending

you? Answering your mobile when you have a visitor

each other silly jokes or searching for information on

at home would elicit a raised eyebrow or possibly an

something we are discussing.

eye roll, but answering your front door would seem

For me, lunch out with my hubby can often mean the

perfectly acceptable.

opportunity to do some Internet research, send emails, update Facebook or a spot of shopping, whilst enjoying a delicious treat and a change of scenery. Conversely, lunch out with a friend will involve lots of chatter to catch up on our respective news, but that doesn't mean our phones are redundant, as there will be photos to share and no doubt Google will be needed. Of course, conversation is as important now as it ever has been, but surely a kind word will mean as much to the recipient, whether it's read or heard, and they will still feel the warmth of the sentiment whether it comes from across the ocean or across a table.

As with anything in life, the key is balance but perhaps the perception that everyone is "always on their phones" is simply the modern equivalent to "always having their nose in a book" or "always having their headphones on". It's human nature to wonder and maybe we will always need a reason to judge the interaction of others to detract from our own social inadequacies or insecurities and letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s face it, people with mobile devices are easy and obvious targets, especially as they aren't paying any attention to you! According to American Philosopher, George Santayana, "The primary use of conversation is to

Far or near?

satisfy the impulse to talk", so perhaps it's simply time

In the age of instant messaging, video calls and Facebook

to acknowledge that the way we "talk" has changed

constantly at our finger tips, we can hold a conversation

and that the art of modern conversation has moved

with anyone, anywhere at any time. These conversations

with the times.

can be as meaningful, inane or garrulous as the ones we

So, whether you are reading this in print, on your

hold face to face and yet to many, they are still seen as

phone, tablet or laptop; when you have finished it,

"second class" and will remain steadfast in their demand

remember to discuss it, either with the person next to

to converse directly.

you, friends on Facebook, work colleagues via

To neglect someone sat beside you whilst replying to a

messenger, What's App or using smoke signals to

message on your phone would indubitably be judged as

relatives on distant shores. However you decide to

rude and unsociable, but can you imagine the social

communicate, just remember it's the art of

outcry of ignoring someone who came up to speak to

conversation that's important, not the means. By Karen Cox

MacKenzie Kerr Limited w w w. m a c k e n z i e k e r r. c o m •

i n f o @ m a c k e n z i e k e r r. c o m

A Very Successful Merger

Fiona Ross

John Fraser

Mark Sanderson

Roy Watson

Lindsay S. Burnett

In April 2015 MacKenzie Kerr Limited, Chartered Accountants of Inverness and Burnett & Co, Chartered Accountants of Grantown on Spey merged to become one firm.

assistance with Auto-Enrolment and auditing which Lindsay on his own was not able to offer. Lindsay’s loyal staff all moved over to MacKenzie Kerr, and they continue to offer a friendly and attentive service to clients.

MacKenzie Kerr were established in Inverness in 1962 under the name Angus MacKenzie & Company. Angus MacKenzie quickly grew the business through his connections to the farming and rural community and in 1967 David Kerr joined him in partnership. These two individuals were the real driving force in developing the firm into the highly respected accountancy practice it is today. Many of the staff worked when both Angus and David were partners of the firm and still carry that same drive and attention to detail they installed in them. The current directors, John Fraser (nephew of Angus MacKenzie) and Fiona Ross both worked with Angus and David before becoming partners in the business. Mark Sanderson joined the firm shortly after Angus retired and became a partner in 2008. Roy Watson joined the firm as a senior manager in 2010 when David Kerr was still the senior partner in the firm. David was a real inspiring mentor to Roy who became a director on David’s retiral in 2013 when the firm also became a limited company and all partners became directors.

A lesser known fact is that MacKenzie Kerr is one of the main sponsors of the Highland Cross charity. In 1988 Angus MacKenzie was the chairman of the Highland Group Riding for the Disabled Association who were to receive support from the Highland Cross charity. In return Angus took some of the MacKenzie Kerr staff over to Kintail to be the registration team for the Highland Cross. The firm has continued to provide the registration team every year since then. In 2003 they then became one of the main sponsors and took over all the administration work for the Cross within MacKenzie Kerr’s Inverness office. John Fraser, director of MacKenzie Kerr, has been the main assistant organiser to Calum Munro MBE for the past 14 years. MacKenzie Kerr were absolutely delighted that in 2016 it was another record fundraising year with over £277,000 raised for the Highland Cross nominated charities and to date the Highland Cross charity has raised over £4.4million in the 34 year history of the event.

Lindsay Burnett joined the company as a Director in April 2015, when his well respected Grantown on Spey practice merged with MacKenzie Kerr. Burnett & Co CA operated in Grantown on Spey for 20 years, where Lindsay became a well-kent face in the community. The recently expanded business in the town now offers more services, including

MacKenzie Kerr has continued to grow since the merger to become one of the leading independent firms in the North of Scotland, developing a reputation for supporting and guiding both individuals and businesses through financial matters of all kinds, and have become known for our accountancy, auditing, taxation and consultancy services in the north and beyond.

The professional accountancy service to suit you

Do you have any untaxed income to report to HMRC? Have you been renting out a property and forgotten to tell HMRC? Have you sold a property that is not your main home? Are you aware that the deadline for lodging your personal tax return is 31 January 2017? Do you know that there is an automatic £100 penalty for failure to meet this deadline? Do you know that failure to declare untaxed income can lead to extremely high penalties?

If any of these points applies to you then we are here to help. We can offer you advice and assistance in making sure you are registered with HMRC and reporting exactly the right information. From the simplest of Tax Returns, to the more complex involving let properties, employment, self-employment, savings and investment income, we can offer you a range of services to make sure you get the help you need and ensure you are paying the right amount of tax. HMRC’s information supply is growing daily and the amount of information available to them is staggering. So please get in touch with us today, it may save you a lot of money in the long run.

Get a free initial consultation today Get in contact with us via email, telephone, or our online contact form to arrange your free initial consultation with us... ...and give us the opportunity to help you!

MacKenzie Kerr Limited 19 Culduthel Road, Inverness IV2 4AA • Tel: 01463 235353 • info@mackenziekerr.com

Grantown Office: 65 High Street, Grantown on Spey P H26 3E G • Tel: 01479 873828

Conference Centre Situated between Aberdeen and Inverness, the AGB Centre is based at the Moray College UHI campus in Elgin. This state-of-the-art Conference Centre is the ideal venue for meetings, seminars, corporate events, awards ceremonies, exhibitions and international conferences in a prestigious contemporary setting. Specialising in education, business and health related events, our dedicated Events team are here to help you - contact us today to discuss your upcoming meeting, event or conference: Email: agbcevents.moray@uhi.ac.uk Web: www.moray.uhi.ac.uk/agbcentre @AGBCentre

Board of Management of Moray College is a registered Scottish Charity, No. SC02105

WIN

£25 Burn’s Night Hamper

To win please message ‘Maclean’s Hamper’ to tamsyn@mms-publishing.scot competition closes 23rd January 2017

LUXURY BISCUITS Hand-baked with the finest ingredients at our bakery in the Scottish Highlands. MacleansBakery.com

Built this City on

Picture the scene, a summer evening, driving home on the A96, from a long day in Aberdeen. You have your 10 year old and 4 year old daughters in the back shouting "turn it up mummy", and why not, always was a big music lover and don't mind cranking up the volume when a favourite comes on. A bit fed up of Girls Aloud durling round my brain, it was good to hear it was The Kings of Leon, Sex On Fire, so up went the volume and as the chorus began, the 3 of us

Sausage Rolls

belted it out. However, one of us got the words wrong. I was kind of glad because hearing the word sex coming from your little girl isn't nice but it's just a song right? And always being one to think about these things too late - as I had done before when I realised the little one not only knew most of my Prodigy album, but sang some of it to her Granny!!! - I looked in my rear view mirror just as THAT line was coming up... I nearly choked when seeing the passion in my youngest daughterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s angelic face, almost as if she were auditioning for X-Factor, and she sang "My Socks Are On Fire"! It was pure comedy gold. The eldest was about to correct her when I

said "No, let's just leave the lyrics her way, in fact they're better like that." That was an awesome drive home and a moment I'll never forget. Another funny moment was my cousin singing "We Built This City On Sausage Rolls" and my brother, who was around 3 years old at the time and couldn't sing "Lovely Day" (by Stevie Wonder I believe) so warbled "Dub-E-Day" instead. Fair enough as a young child but as an adult, this could get really embarrassing. Everyone's misheard a song lyric before. Was I the only one as a teen who would pause and replay my cassettes over and over in an attempt to get all the lyrics to my favourite hit at the time? I think not. At least now we have the internet where we can find out what the actual lyrics are, instead of pause, rewind, write it out and replay! I'm sure you have one or two that stick out in your mind. Here are a few others that I found - I defy you not to sing a few in your head...

'Kicking your cat all over the place' Correct lyric: 'Kicking your can all over the place' - Queen 'Money for nothin' and chips for free' Correct lyric: 'Money for nothin' and your chicks for free' Dire Straits 'Excuse me while I kiss this guy' Correct lyric: 'Excuse me while I kiss the sky' Jimi Hendrix 'I can see clearly now, Lorraine is gone' Correct lyric: 'I can see clearly now, the rain is gone' Johnny Nash 'Here we are now, in containers' Correct lyric: 'Here we are now, entertain us' - Nirvana

Also, because speech

'Kick a chicken with it' Correct lyric: 'Gettin’ jiggy with it' - Will Smith

when one word ends and another

'Take your teeth out, tell me what's wrong' Correct lyric: 'Chiquitita, tell me what's wrong' - Abba

When you listen to a recording of a language that you don’t

occurs without breaks:

begins, we don’t actually pause to signal the transition.

speak, you hear a continuous stream of sounds that is more

Why do we do this? Hearing is a two-step process. First, there is the auditory perception itself: the physics of sound waves making their way through your ear and into the auditory cortex of your brain. And then there is the meaning-making: the part where your brain takes the noise and soaks it with significance. That was a car alarm. That’s a bird. Mondegreens happen when, somewhere between the sound and the meaning, communication breaks down. You hear the same acoustic information as everyone else, but your brain doesn’t

a warbling than a string of discernible words. We only learn when one word stops and the next one starts over time, by virtue of certain verbal cues. People who find themselves in an environment with a new language often initially experience the same thing: a lack of clear ability to tell what words should properly emerge from the sounds that are being spoken or sung. And in the case of the mondegreen, with a new song, we have to listen intently to the lyrics being sung. So if they're not clear... the door is wide open for hilarious interpretation.

interpret it the same way, some more than others, particularly children.

Misheard song lyrics are the stuff of legend, and I still think my daughter's is up there in the top three for sure.

What’s less clear is why that happens. Maybe because it’s noisy and we lack the visual cues to help us out. This can happen on the phone, on the radio basically anytime we can’t see the mouth of the speaker. One of the reasons we often mishear song lyrics is that there’s a lot of noise to get through and we usually can’t see the musicians’ faces. Other times, the misperceptions come from the nature of the speech itself, for example when someone speaks in an unfamiliar accent or when the usual structure of stresses changes, as it does in a poem or a song. What should be clear becomes vague, and our brain has to do its best to solve the audio puzzle.

by hnstone Sar ah J o 33

Winters walk Winter is such a beautiful season it would be a shame not to get outdoors and enjoy the wondrous scenery on your doorstep.

Try incorporating nature’s colours to bring

some vibrance and add different textures for an original look. January sees the start of a

new year, of change, new resolutions and fresh beginnings.

Treat yourself to a new, trendy look and don’t be afraid to be daring...

1. Brown zig zag dress £34.99 Quiz 2. Pink skinny jeans £32 Next 3. Cashmere wrap £130 Next 1

4. Petite faux fur biker jacket £60 Wallis 5. Faux Shearling Gilet £49 M&Co 6. Puffer bomber £69 Miss Selfridge 7.

Chestnut leather boots £85 Next

8. Tan suede lace up boots £65 Next 9. Tie side shopper bag £32 Next 10. Brown over shoulder bag £30 Next 11. Casual saddle bag £28 Next

12. Tan/grey gloves £12 Next

Brown Patchwork Dress £34.99 Quiz Chestnut Leather Boots £85 Next Faux Fur Scarf £24 Next

Photographed by Gareth Ceri Bryant Styled & Directed by Christine Ann de Agostini Modelled by Rhiannon of VSO Models

Sleeveless fur Jacket £34.99 Threadbare Grey Suede Knee High Boots £44.99 Quiz Velvet Dress - £10 Primark Short Gold and Silver Necklace £29.99 Rouge Boutique Bronze Bracelet £29.99 Rouge Boutique Suede Bracelet £8 Next Accessories Long Necklace £14 Next Accessories Ring - £6 Dorothy Perkins Earrings - Sainsbury’s

Photographed by Gareth Ceri Bryant Styled & Directed by Christine Ann de Agostini Fashion Assistant Malcolm Littlejohn Model Kim Thompson at VSO Models UK

Cool as ice To take on the New Year by storm you need a strong,

outstanding look that shimmers and shines! Indulge in

gorgeous velvet, the retro fabric that always looks classic and timeless. Faux fur adds an edgy vibe that separates you from the crowd and adding costume jewellery that blends with the selected outfit will always accentuate the look.

Another plus is that grey is an all year round colour that can be rejuvenated with brighter and warmer colours once the summer comes along.

The majority of the products can be found in your local stores so it will be easy to bag that cool as ice look.

1. Grey Zip Midi Blazer £35.00 Wallis 2. Grey Faux Fur Collar Biker Jacket £60 Wallis 3. Blue Check Slouchy Coat £79 MIss Selfridge 4. Grey Waterfall Trench Coat £55 Wallis

5. Petite Grey Asymmetric Biker Jacket £55 Wallis 6. Grey Women’s Blazer £55 Wallis 7.

Grey Trench Coat Next £90

8. Grey Drape Duster Jacket £50 Wallis 9. Grey Zip Pocket Funnel Coat £65 Wallis 10. Shimmer Heatseal Pointed Court Shoes £45 Next 11. Grey Knee High Boot £44.99 Quiz 12. Grey Eyelet Detail High Leg Boot £55 Wallis

Casual elegance to compliment your style MY is an exclusive new ladieswear boutique, now open in Lossiemouth.

As experienced stylists, we pride ourselves on our friendly yet respectful customer service. Whether you’re looking for the perfect outfit for a special occasion,

At MY we embrace quality and individuality. Our

thinking about refreshing your wardrobe or simply

customers appreciate exquisitely cut garments and

popping in for a browse, we’re able to guide and

luxurious fabrics, presented with style and flair in a

support you in your choice, as much or as little as you’d

relaxed and unpressured environment.

like, leading you to feel confident and look fantastic!

Throughout January we’re showcasing an introductory

In our historical quayside location, we’ve created a light

collection of key items; such as gorgeous, luxe leather

and airy space, thoughtfully designed to offer ample

jackets from leading French brand Oakwood, butter soft

room to browse and generous well-lit fitting rooms. We

cashmere from Les 100 Ciels, and beautifully tailored

offer a range of different styles and cater for sizes from

garments from Italian fashion house, Caractère.

8 to 18, so you’re sure to find something that flatters

Looking ahead, we’ll start to introduce the new season

and fits, while also being comfortable and working with

collections; including a wide range of clothing and

your lifestyle.

accessories from gorgeous Spanish brand Oky-Coky, stylish pieces from Italian designers Pietrogrande, and

We look forward to welcoming you to MY. Find us next

simple, everyday elegance from Yerse.

to the Harbour Lights cafe and bistro on the marina.

COMING SOON Full Spring/ Summer Collection Stock ists

Caractére ~ Oakwood ~ Pieszak ~ Oky-coky ~ Pietrogrande ~ ~ Yerse ~ Bitte K ai Rand ~ ~ Les 100 Ciels ~ Emin & Paul ~ Winter opening times: Tues - Sat 10am - 5pm • Easy parking

C A S UA L E L E G A N C E TO C O M P L I M E N T YO U R S T Y L E

3 Pitgaveny Quay, Lossiemouth Marina, Lossiemouth IV31 6TW • Tel: 01343 815274 • Email: my@myclothesline.co.uk

as he attempted to screw in the security, in ice that was apparently not up to the task. My confidence dented, once he had given me the ‘climb when ready’ command I set off. Ice climbing is unlike rock climbing in many ways, for a start it’s colder. One way in which I found it less comfortable was the peculiar burning sensation in the calf muscles; you are literally on your toes all day as the front ‘teeth’ of the crampons dig into the ice wall.

With the first snow of the season drifting on the tops, the annual winter-lust returns and the weather forecast is on almost permanent refresh. Personally the enjoyment of sleeping outside is perennial and whilst sitting around a campfire in the balmy summer air is a fine way to spend your time, when the nights draw in and the weather turns more to ‘fireside’ than ‘lakeside’, there is still lots of opportunities to get out into the outdoors.

Almost a year ago, a friend and I were in Coire an t'Sneachda in the Cairngorms. The aim was for me to have my first taste of ice climbing; my friend being a Winter Mountain Leader and an Alpine Guide, I was in fairly safe hands. He had previously explained to me the difference between rock climbing, with which I was fairly familiar, and ice climbing, with which I was not; always having been concerned about trusting my life to what was essentially a frozen dribble.

The route we had chosen was Jacob’s Ladder, a fairly straightforward climb which would allow me to get to grips with the technicalities, without having to focus on the route too much. As we sat at the foot of the climb, we had a final run through and check of the kit. Crampons and ice axes, ice screws, all manner of technical ‘stuff’ and obviously, rope. He led off and I was on belay, listening to him curse

Once I reached him and was secure, he set off again. We continued like this, uneventfully until the top pitch, when he let me lead. The reason for this was twofold, it would increase my confidence, allow me to stretch my comfort zone and learn about the equipment and skills, but most importantly for him, it meant I was the one who had to break through the cornice at the top. A cornice is the lip of snow that stretches out into space at the top of a cliff, they can sometimes be metres long and can be lethal to unwary hikers who just want a ‘peek over the edge’; the edge in question being behind them and all that is holding them aloft is a platform of snow a metre deep, above hundreds of feet of fresh air.

As I approached the overhang he shouted at me to use my ice axe to punch through and then follow it through onto the plateau. The primary drawback for me was the fairly severe cramp I was struggling with in both legs, meaning one ice axe was holding almost 50% of my body weight. After inventing a few new swear words, I finally punched through, saw the sky and hauled myself up.

Let me tell you that as a lifelong hill walker, there has always been a slight denting of the

pride when you walk to the top of a hill, only to watch

snow-hole; Having never dug or slept in one before, it was

some adrenaline junkie climbing to where you are

a valuable lesson and I had no idea of the exact require-

stood via a vertical cliff. It makes you doubt your

ments for ventilation or even what a cold sink was (a

achievement. On this particular day however, it was

depression in the floor of the hole, between the two ‘beds’

me left feeling like a hero as I punched through the

that allowed cold air to sink low and exit the hole). Once

cornice a stone’s throw from some walkers having

we had created a deep enough hole to get into, it was

lunch. I belayed my climbing companion up and then

amazing how quiet it became out of the light breeze; a

stood coiling the rope, feigning a far-away, steely-

couple of emergency glow sticks and a head torch meant

eyed stare into the distance, hoping they would be

that it was fairly cosy, and once we had arranged the

looking my way, and talking in hushed whispers about

sleeping shelves properly we were able to relax after the

the ‘strong and silent mountain man over there’.

not inconsiderable exertion of digging.

“Not a bad route up that is it?” one of them shouted,

One of the things that shocked me was how comfortable

“We did Aladdin’s Couloir last week, it’s a bit trickier!”

and, if not warm, then at least un-freezing the hole was; it was the perfect place to spend a night on the hill, and

Deflated, we started to trudge back down, walking

luckily the high pressure weather conditions meant that

down the in-use ski slopes, past the Ptarmigan

after we had eaten, we were able to sit outside with a brew

restaurant and towards the ski centre. Looking at the

for a while under the stars before getting settled down.

snow that had drifted in the corries, my friend suggested we could possibly stay the night on the

It should be stressed however that although I was lucky

hill. As with any trip into the hills in winter, we had

enough to have a climbing partner who was so

packed enough kit to get through an impromptu night

knowledgeable about the weather conditions and all aspects of safety, one should never attempt to do this without proper training and knowledge of the conditions, and it is of paramount importance to always ensure someone knows where you are at all times.

My biggest regret was that after a great night’s sleep, there was no one around when I finally left the hole and stretched, coffee in hand, in the cold morning air - that would have seemed really rugged to a passing walker!

out; sleeping bags, waterproof bivvy bags, emergency shelter and spare food - We even had a hipflask!

We managed to send a text home to explain our intention and whereabouts, and once we had selected the appropriate spot, we set to work digging a

think

large format posters up to 1.2m x 30m banners . window displays fine art giclĂŠe prints and everything in between...

mmsalmacltd. design&print 6 Tyock Industrial Estate . Elgin . IV30 1XY Tel: 01343 551234 Unit F . Islabank Mills . Keith . AB55 5DD Tel: 01542 886409 Email: info@mms-almac.co.uk www.mms-almac.co.uk

Everything for everyone... ...garden ...gifts

...restaurant

...new furniture

NEW

Furniture Department opening January The Nurseries, Fochabers IV32 7PF 01343 820362 www.christiesoffochabers.com â&#x20AC;˘ info@christiesoffochabers.com 44

A profile on

d r o f h s a B n Ia ARTIST

It was one of those pictures that catch your eye

The artist has used muted soft blues and reds for

and, for some inexplicable reason, will not let go.

the rooftops and a misty blue for the sea. You

It had been placed on a small easel and positioned

cannot see the horizon but you know that it is

on a high shelf in the Gallery. Flanking it were two

somewhere out there in the far distance. You can

highly decorative prints that towered over it like

almost smell the briny water and hear the gulls with

protective bodyguards. No matter where I looked I

their mournful cries.

kept coming back to this picture. And no matter how hard I fought against buying it, giving myself all sorts of reasons from one side of the brain – which were promptly refuted by the other side of my brain – it went home with me.

The harbour is Cullen and the artist is Ian Bashford – or Bash, as he is known to all and sundry. I would like to find out more about the man who has created this delightful picture so I engineer a meeting, courtesy of mutual friends - and we sit one

It is no great dramatic piece, no bloody battle

wet, miserable Saturday afternoon, with the light

scene, nothing to pull at your heart strings and it is

fading and the fire blazing, and chat as if we had

not a cute animal study that produces a long,

known each other for years. He is a very easy

drawn-out aaah. Instead it is a study of small boats

person to like; there are no airs and graces, none of

in a small harbour and it is, quite simply, captivating.

that ‘do you know who I am’ attitude, just a down to

From above the rooftops of the cottages

earth, self-effacing and very modest man. He is also

surrounding the harbour you can see two yachts

blessed with a wicked sense of humour – which he

and four tiny power boats, all enclosed by this

is not afraid to use!

sweeping curved harbour wall, like a protective arm

An only child, Bash was born and grew up in the

keeping the craft safe from storms and high seas.

Loch Lomondside village of Balfron. After school

the decision was made to study woven textile design

Peterhead harbour. From small beginnings came

and graphic design. The choices available were

more and more commissions, invariably of boats.

either Glasgow or Aberdeen – and Aberdeen won,

The word spread steadily and Bash’s reputation

where he studied under the internationally

grew. He has exhibited in various galleries in and

recognised Maggie Riegler, who now lives in the

around the north east, notably in the Holburn

Speyside village of Craigellachie. Whilst in Aberdeen

Gallery in Aberdeen, where owners Ian and Kirsten

he gained a R.S.A.D. travel bursary which enabled

Crawford combine gallery space with their framing

him to visit both Switzerland and Italy, absorbing the

workshop, thus making a visit to their gallery a

two very different cultures.

different, unhurried and most enjoyable experience.

After graduating from the Gray’s School of Art in

Bash has exhibited widely in galleries including the

Aberdeen Bash enjoyed a year at Leeds University,

Leap Gallery, Still Life Studio, the Tolquhoun Gallery,

studying industrial textile design and manufacture

the Aberfeldy Gallery, Jardin Gallery and

and then returned to Aberdeen for teacher training

Meadowlands in Banff. His work has also found its

at Aberdeen College of Education. After studying

way to Israel and Australia.

he taught art and design in Aberdeen and then for many years at the Ellon Academy, from which he retired but returned to teach children with learning difficulties.

His style is uncomplicated and is instantly recognisable. What he produces are pictures that somehow draw you in and invite you to linger – they are representational art at its best.

So why did he start painting watercolours, primarily of harbours and boats? For the answer to this question you have to look to his wife, who has family connections with both farming and fishing in the north east. One Christmas she gave him paints and brushes as a present and when he asked her what

You can contact Ian Bashford on

07814 380094 or by email at i.bashford@btinternet.com He welcomes commissions

he should paint, she simply said “boats”. Without this kick-start I would not be the proud owner of the wonderfully evocative picture of Cullen harbour. Armed with a few finished pieces, Bash approached Murisons in Peterhead, a shop which now sadly has closed down. The pieces were admired and taken into stock on a ‘sale or return’ basis but, here is where fate played a not insignificant part. Whilst in the shop a customer overheard the conversation and asked Bash there and then if he would paint her husband’s new boat, which was moored in

Ian’s Paintings can be seen at: STILL LIFE STUDIO, 126 High Street, Aberlour AB38 9NX and LEAP GALLERY, 8 Seafield Square, Rothes AB38 7AZ

5 hours, 12 minutes and 32 seconds...

WELL thank God that’s over. The festive season, I mean. All of that enforced jollity and goodwill towards men is all well and good, in its place, but I can’t be the only bloke who finds the run-up to the festive season, on the domestic front, an experience as stressful as divorce, moving house and bereavement all rolled into one. Perhaps in the same way that bobbies on the beat are now looking younger all the time, I could swear that the preparations start earlier every year. The first of what feels like an apparently endless succession of shopping trips is usually an odyssey in pursuit of a new garment for the Christmas party season, on account of 'Not Having A Thing To Wear'. How the other half can possibly say that when she has wardrobes (yes, that’s wardrobes, plural) stuffed to overflowing with 'Things To Wear', including several little black dresses that are virtually indistinguishable from each other, is a source of unending astonishment to me. Anyway, after she has checked that I am free that afternoon, the shopping trip is arranged. There is to be no

Inadvertently we catch each other’s eye, we beasts of

escape. We hit the shops and I gird my loins for the

burden trailing round the shops after our womenfolk,

duration. It’s usually around the third store that I first find

exchanging looks that convey a curious hybrid of sympathy,

myself wondering why shopping for clothes takes women

false bravado and silent desperation. There is in these

such an eternity. I mean, it’s almost as if they enjoy it.

moments a sense of solidarity, of shared suffering, much as is

It’s not as if she doesn’t get plenty of chances to shop. I let

probably conveyed, I fancy, in the furtive glances exchanged

her do the Tesco run pretty much every time without ever

by condemned prisoners in the exercise yard on death row.

trying to muscle in. You’d think that would be enough.

It’s around this point, generally, that tempers begin to fray. I

By the fifth clothes store I am toting bags containing

mean, not mine, clearly. After all, I have traipsed around what

leggings, two tops, a coat, a dressing gown, something

seems like every boutique in northern Europe and sat

called a pashmina and all manner of ancillary nether

outside changing rooms for what feels like days, with hardly a

garments. And OK, yes, the answers might well be

thought for all the stuff I’m missing on the telly, and all with a

becoming a tad less fulsome when I am consulted on

smile on my face that could only be described as beatific.

whether the 12th frock she has tried on suits her better or

What more can she expect?

worse than the one she tried on in the first shop about

The other half appears, somehow, not to see the smile.

four hours previously. By the time an exhaustive

“What’s wrong?” she will ask. Now I’d like to say that by way

inspection of every garment on every rail reveals that the

of reply, I ratchet up the wattage of the smile to make it even

ninth shop has ‘nothing’, and we have circled back to the

more beatific, reassure her that she is mistaken and whisk

first store and purchased the very first dress she tried on,

her off for cocktails in her favourite watering hole. I would,

I admit it, I have lost the will to live.

really, I’d like to say that. But in actual fact, at this stage in the

proceedings, being bored, hungry and all shopped out,

wallpapered the living room, and am wondering whether I can

I am considerably more likely to snarl something, through

fit in an oil change on the car.

gritted teeth, that could be construed as a tad less

Then, when she descends the stairs for the night out, wafting all

sympathetic.

the scents of the mystic east in her wake, come 'The Questions'.

This usually results, eventually, in the other half resorting to

You need to be ready for these. They can trap the unwary

the F word. No, don’t be silly, not that F word.

amateur and bring to an otherwise promising evening a

“Fine.” Why is it, when a woman says she is “fine”, that

decidedly sub-Arctic chill.

“fine” is the last thing that she is? That she is, in fact, very

The first one is kids’ stuff. “Does this make me look fat?” Well, if

far indeed from “fine”? That the casual observer might

you don’t know how to field this one, you may as well give up

suppose that she will never be “fine” again? I swear,

now. Just to be clear, you never, EVER answer this enquiry in

sometimes you need a manual. It’s not so much that men

the affirmative, and what’s more, you say “No of course not!”

are from Mars and women are from Venus, it’s like we are

without hesitating for so much as a moment, unless you are

from entirely different solar systems.

prepared for a delay of at least 45 more minutes. If it does

In my solar system it takes about 10 minutes to get ready

happen to make her bum resemble that of a Hottentot and you

for a night out. That includes a shower and a shave. In the

have scruples about being economical with the truth, you’re

other half’s solar system, it’s closer to 10 days. In the time

going to have to come up with some diversionary tactic to avoid

she requires to shower, wash her hair (and unfathomably,

responding. Top tip: a sudden onset (but unaccountably brief)

that involves two separate excursions to the bathroom),

bout of gastroenteritis can prove inordinately useful on such

exfoliate, buff, powder, moisturise, shave her legs, select

occasions.

the outfit she will be wearing, dress, do her face, hair and

The supplementary questions generally concern which earrings

nails… I have generally caught up with three episodes

/ necklace / scarf you think she should select to accessorise

from a box set; walked the dog, reorganised the shed,

her chosen outfit. Although you should certainly give the

appearance of a man weighing up the relative merits of the

need to be prepared for further questions. “Why don’t you ever

shortlisted items, it’s really not worth expending too much

say things like that to me?”, for instance, or “Why can’t you be

effort on this, because in my experience, she will end up

romantic like him?”

ignoring what you say and wearing whatever the hell she

This is an area in which you are required to exercise

wants anyway. Just roll with it.

considerable caution as you consider your responses. Any trace

Oddly enough, when she expresses an opinion about your

of uncertainty here and they might well be followed by the now

sartorial choices, such as that favourite jumper with the

familiar, “What’s wrong?”, or the even trickier, “What are you

holes that you like to wear for every occasion because it’s

thinking?”

so comfortable, or when you opt to wear a nice pair of

The Venusians do often tend to feel that if a Martian is silent, he

socks with your sandals… you are expected not only to pay

must be considering whether they might be in trouble as a

attention but to act upon it, and sharpish.

couple; where the relationship is going; whether or not they have

By the time the festive season is drawing to a close, you

a future. As any Martian will tell you, of course, the chances are

might well have had enough of dressing up and eating out

that he’s just thinking that the car brakes feel on the spongey

and just fancy a quiet night in. If you’re feeling particularly

side, or wondering if the drains need rodding again.

benevolent, you might even decide to treat the other half to

If the Martians need a manual to understand the Venusians,

a night off from the kitchen and volunteer to cook the

maybe the Venusians need a couple of pointers too. One of the

dinner yourself.

most useful things for them to take on board might be that men

Word of advice here, don’t make the mistake of assuming

are simple, literal souls who are not mind readers. We will rarely

that she’ll be so grateful not to have to do the cooking

be able to determine what your beef with us is if you don’t spell

herself that she won’t mind offering a little guidance on the

it out. I mean, sometimes it’s hard enough when you do spell it

location of various ingredients or utensils. In my experience,

out, to be honest.

it only takes seven or eight requests for directions before

Still, as another new year begins, we can at least make it our

the other half is throwing my generous gesture back in my

resolution to try harder in future. And who knows, if we play our

face and suggesting that it would have been easier to make

cards right, with any luck maybe we’ll still be stressing about all

the dinner herself.

the same stuff this time next year.

If you settle down on the sofa after dinner to watch a romantic Christmas movie, you

By Ian Gill

THE 7 MILLION DOLLAR SPEED MACHINE The 498cc Porcupine is a rare racer indeed. This parallel twin, which first took to the track in 1947, was an out-andout Grand Prix machine. There was no roadgoing equivalent to the E90 and E95 racebikes. The engine was an astonishing engineering achievement - made even stranger

Supercharged

by its unusual gestation during the Second World War.

multi-cylinder engines had

The Porcupine was the brainchild of Joe Craig, who is more

begun to threaten the single cylinder racers' supremacy

famous for developing Norton's racing singles. Craig's

towards the end of the 1930s and, indeed, AJS themselves

concept was made metal with help from AMC's develop-

went down this road with their fearsome water-cooled V4.

ment team which included Phil Irving and Vic Webb.

Fast yet difficult to handle, the latter had demonstrated that

However, when this team started the project they were

horsepower bought at the expense of excess bulk and

building a supercharged engine, hence the unusual layout of

weight was not the answer, so the designers' thoughts turned

the engine in the frame.

to a twin.

TOO ADVANCED THEY BANNED IT! Laying the cylinders horizontally with their heads facing forwards would ensure adequate cooling and a low centre of gravity, while at the same time providing room for the blower above the unit construction gearbox. When supercharging was banned at the end of 1946, the Porcupine's design was too far advanced to be substantially altered, although the

The 68mm by 68.5mm motor produced around 40bhp at 7600rpm. It used double overhead cams and overlapping hairpin-type valve springs. The main engine castings were of magnesium alloy with the single-piece, forged steel crankshaft supported by three bearings. Straight-cut gears took drive to a four-speed close-ratio gearbox, built in unit with the engine to keep everything compact. A powerful but complicated lubrication system used multiple pumps to ensure a consistent oil feed throughout the engine, which was positioned in the duplex frame facing forwards.

cylinder heads were revised to raise the compression ratio. The overall design was therefore inevitably compromised: if the team had known they were building a normally aspirated racer from the get-go, then they probably would have opted for a four-cylinder layout. Instead, a parallel twin was chosen as the best option to squeeze in the additional gubbins required for the supercharging system. Stachelschwein is a Porcupine in German; 'sting pig'... AJS Porcupine E90 Engine

Typed E90, but dubbed 'Porcupine' because of its distinctive

when just two minutes from the finish - a problem that

spiked cylinder head finning, AJS' new challenger debuted at

would not be solved until chain drive for the magneto

the 1947 Isle of Man TT piloted by Les Graham and Jock

was adopted on the revised E95 engine. However, the

West. The Porcupine took some time to settle down and

E90 was more than good enough to secure two world

indeed never took top honours at the TT. That makes the

speed records for AJS in 1950 at Montlhery.

cover of the 1952 TT Special of The Motor Cycle magazine

Introduced in 1952, the E95 engine had its cylinders

all the more ironic - the two Porcupines finished a long way

tilted upwards at 45-degrees, an arrangement that

from the podium that yearâ&#x20AC;Ś

called for a new frame, which gave easier access to the

Two years later, in 1949, an ultimate victory was finally

twin GP carbs, and featured a long underslung oil sump,

achieved as Graham won first place in the inaugural Grand

and pressed-up crankshaft with one-piece connecting

Prix World Championships astride the Porcupine, a win that

rods and roller big-ends in place of the E90's one-piece

was to become AJS' and Graham's only major title.

shaft and shell-type bearings. In E95 form, the AJS racer

Many years later, AJS works rider Ted Frend - the first rider to win a race on the bike - recalled that carburetion had been the bike's

weighed less than 145lb and output around 55bhp at 7600rpm. The E95 Porcupine and works 'tripleknocker' 7R3 gained

biggest problem, perhaps not surprising given that it had been

new pannier-style fuel tanks, which extended down on either

designed for a supercharger, and over the years a bewildering

side of the engine thus lowering the centre of gravity and

number of different induction arrangements were tried.

affording a measure of streamlining at the same time. A new

The bike was also bedevilled by magneto shaft failure - the

second version frame lowered the bike still more. An AC fuel

cause of Graham's retirement from the lead of the '49 Senior TT

pump raised petrol to the carburettors, and a clever delivery

system involved mechanics standing the bike on its rear wheel

Because the number of AJS Porcupines is so scarce, each

to prime the header tank for starting!

machine is well known with all 1954 models being

Bob McIntyre, Derek Farrant and Rod Coleman were the

accounted for (most earlier Porcupines were scrapped by

riders, the last providing the Porcupine with its best interna-

the factory).

tional results of the season, placing second in Ulster and

The last Porcupine to sell at auction was in 2015 for

7R3

winning the Swedish

$7,000,000 (nearly ÂŁ5 Million), making it the second most

Grand Prix. Sadly, just

expensive bike ever sold. That seems utterly amazing,

when the E95 was at last

given that the original Porcupine design was critically

proving its full potential,

compromised from its creation - and although most of

1954 would prove to

those flaws were fixed in the shape of the E95, this later

be the Porcupine's

version does not boast the E90's iconic cylinder finning.

swansong year

The E90 did indeed win the first ever Grand Prix, but its

continental competitors went on to much

as AJS withdrew from direct involvement in Grand Prix racing at

greater things - Gilera's four-cylinder equivalent

season's end. In total, just four complete E95

clocked up 6 world championship wins in the next 7 years,

machines were built, plus one or two spare engines. With the

while AJS struggled to make the Porcupine perform properly.

exception of the Tom Arter machine (Arter's E95 was originally meant to be a display bike in his showroom, but was

Editorial by

Rowena Hoseason, with special

discovered to be a fully functioning machine!), they were raced

thanks to: RealClassic magazine (www.realclassic.co.uk)

only by the works team and never offered for public sale.

and Bonhams Auctioneers (bonhams.com) 55

Bunny Chow

Warm your soul with a delicious bread bowl

While South Africans have been eating bunny chow since

the

1940s

and

perhaps

before,

recent

attention focussed on the fast food by various food publications has it gracing menus worldwide.

There’s little doubt though, that the messy but

There is another origin story, too. In this tale, the dish

upgrade for the international canapé tray and London

emerged as the result of hungry Indian golf caddies.

street food stalls.

Unable to travel from the golf course to Grey Street in

The first thing you’ll notice about the South African

Durban for lunch, they arranged for their friends to

dish Bunny Chow - a spicy curry ladled into a

bring them meals. In a fit of ingenuity spawned by a

hollowed-out loaf of bread - is that no rabbits were

lack of appropriate containers, the restaurant owner

versatile,

best-with-fingers

meal

has

gotten

harmed in its preparation. The

poured the curry into a loaf of

second

it’s

bread. In both stories, “Bunny” is

incredibly portable, a curry

a permutation of the word Bania,

lover’s answer to a lunch box.

an Indian caste of merchants

And the third thing you won’t

who sold the curries.

really notice at all, but it’s what

There is no elegant way to eat a

makes Bunny Chow so interest-

bunny chow and locals, of Indian

ing: that it's a dish mired in

descent or not, know that the

legend, its origins a murky

best way to eat one is with your

tribute to South Africa’s past.

hands

Bunny

thing

Chow

Durban’s

that

originated

Indian

served

community

are

never

with

chicken,

lamb,

vegetables, or mutton, sits in the

during the apartheid area. From

26 1948 to 1994, apartheid laws forbid blacks from

(utensils

provided). The meal, which is

type of rectangular white loaf reminiscent of Wonder

entering restaurants or cafes, so they took to ordering

Bread. They’re available in quarter, half, or full sizes,

take-out meals from the sides or backdoors of

and the hollowed-out lump of bread that sits on top of

restaurants. The most popular dish at the time was roti

the finished dish is called a “virgin." The sauce is a

and beans, but roti, a thin wheat bread akin to a crepe,

thick homage to home-cooked stews, lightly spiced

fell apart easily if not eaten immediately. Indian

with coriander, turmeric, and cumin.

proprietors began using loaves of bread as take-out

A nice hot 'bunny' will warm your soul and perhaps

containers for curries and the “Bunny Chow” - South

make you sweat a little - just don’t forget the

Africa’s most popular fast food - was born.

extra napkins!

by Sarah Johnstone

an interview with...

Twin brothers, Mark James Scott & Darren Robert

I caught up with Darren to ask a few questions

Scott, make up the rather interesting duo who are

to get to know more about them....

Scottish rappers and songwriters that have achieved four Official Top 40 Chart hits independently making Scottish music history and have been dubbed as the ones to watch in Hip Pop Rock by NME Magazine. They have also had a few gloriously exciting reviews written about them. What's more exciting for us, is SHY & D.R.S are "oor loons".

You hail from the lovely granite city, Aberdeen, "far aboots" did you grow up? We were actually born in Torry and spent the first 2 years of our lives there - but don't hold that against us! You're brothers, so growing up were you always close? Yeah, we kinda had to be as we are twins and had the

They grew up, went to university in and still live

same group of friends growing up. We have just been

and work in our granite city, Aberdeen. They are

stuck with each other and haven't really had a choice

very talented lads & are clearly more than a couple

but to be close.

of mates who can kick a good beat and tick all the boxes that the music industry (unfortunately) like to

Ever competitive?

have ticked.

Yes, but not in a bad or unhealthy way. We are

They write their own music and lyrics, do their own

competitive when it comes to music i.e who can write

promotions and, more importantly, give a good message to the up and coming young in our

the best verse, which actually brings out the best in us so it works out better.

society. They've worked and performed alongside a variety of music types from Sandi Thom, to rock legends Nazareth, Eminem's backing group, D12 to Scottish opera singer Nicola Casells, showing their adaptability and proving how talented they are. They are gutsy, strong, determined, hard-working and never complain. They write heart-felt songs that can stir the soul when you listen to what they're rapping out or singing. 59

And when did you realise your musical

that are really different from one another

talents were more than just great & it was

like Lloyd, Otis Redding, Lil Wayne,

worth taking a shot at as a career?

Miguel, Ray LaMontagne, Eminem,

We first got singed by a Canadian record label Awe

Fabolous, Freddie Mercury etc

Records back in 2008 after they came across an Akon song that we remixed and ever since then we

How many different names did

have taken it more seriously rather than just a hobby.

you have before you decided on SHY & D.R.S?

Who was your biggest influence back then?

We actually only had one; we originally

Our biggest influences would have to be the likes of

started out as "SHYGUY & D.R.S" although

Eminem, Big L, D12, Dr Dre and all the hiphop artists

people always get it wrong!

that were big back then. We were totally influenced by American rappers.

Do you prefer to be described as pop, rap, singer/songwriters or are you not bothered

And who is it now?

too much?

They have definitely changed over the years. For

We aren't really fussed when it comes to labels or

SHY, he's influenced by (and weirdly obsessed with)

genres as our music is really hard to pin-point but if

Vanessa Carlton. We both like other types of music

we had to go with one we would have to say

as we are all about the lyrics and the feeling of songs

Rap/HipHop.

so we listen to and are inspired by a bunch of artists

Having listened more than a few times to your CD

"Before To Long" it's clear to me you two aren't one trick ponies. You not only rap well, you have awesome singing voices & write good pop(ish) music with a big slam of hip-hop and a heavy message that most of us can identify with -

Do you write all your lyrics? And music?

positively. A lot of pop lyrics just rhyme but don't

Yes, we write all of our own lyrics and wouldn't let

make sense and rap can be very hostile - what sets

anyone else write them for us. we are really

you apart is your attitude. You not only have

passionate about our lyrics and feel strongly that

passion in what you rap about, it's like you're trying

they have to come from within and not someone

to help others know they're not alone or give them

else. SHY can produce however, we tend to use

hope or inspiration.

other producers out there. Saying that, we are really specific with what we want and work closely with

Do you agree or have anything else to add?

producers to create our vision.

We are glad people see that as we are trying to spread a positive message in our music and make

Do you change a songâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lyrics in live sets?

people feel good. We purposely distance ourselves

Not unless we muck up and say the wrong word or

from other hiphop that talks about guns and drugs,

words by mistake. There have been a few times

etc as this isn't the life we lead. We are two

where I've had to leave out the odd swear word or

everyday guys who rap about things that affect us

reference to sex, etc but normally people who pay

that everybody can relate to - society, people and

to come see us know what to expect so we don't

relationships

feel the need to change them.

have recently asked them to give us any 20 words for us to put into a personalised rap for them. We think it's important for bands and artists not to lose touch with their fan base and to get to know them as much as possible. Do you have a band website? We don't have a website as most of our fans interact via Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. We mostly use our Facebook page though. So, you use Facebook as your main social media promo base. And you answer fans personally, very refreshing to see. When do you rest? WE DON'T! Ha ha

with Sandi Thom

Sponsorships? We recently secured a sponsorship deal with Father & Sons clothing who do menswear. We wore their

You are capable of adapting any song and

clothes before we got sponsored by them so it was a

collaborate with a variety of other musicians.

win win for us.

i.e. Sandi Thom & latterly, Janet Devlin. You were both involved in a wonderful

X-Factor? Anything you want written about

project and produced your song 'Beautiful To

this experience?

Me' to come out in time for National

We recently (somehow) got through to bootcamp on

Anti-Bullying Week 2015. Who came up with

X-factor, performing with classical singer Nicola

that idea?

Cassells. It's not something we would normally do,

That was me (D.R.S) who came up with the idea to do

however, when we got asked to appear on the show

a song about bullying as its something that briefly

we couldn't say no. It was a really good experience

affected us when we were younger and it's an issue

and we got to meet some interesting people along

we see occurring on a daily basis, especially online,

the way. We were well shocked that Simon is actually

where bullying is made so easy. We were delighted

really sound. I also got to touch Nicole so I'm good!

when it got accepted to be the official Anti-Bullying Week song for 2015.

Do you think that online presence is important for fans to find you and critics to

And you like to involve your fans in as much

find your music to write about?

as you can, what else have you done

Yes, being online is hugely important in getting your

involving them?

name/music out there. Gigs and the old way of

We always try to involve our fans as they are the ones

getting recognised are slowly becoming a thing of

that allow us to keep doing what we are doing. We

the past these days.

So, you're extremely talented & creative, you are grounded, caring, good looking and very hardworking. I believe, university educated too, having a degree each - am I right in saying one is Psychology & one is Sociology? (You can't be single then!!) Ha ha! I don't know about all that but, yeah, we both blagged degrees â&#x20AC;&#x201C; I (Darren) have a first class honours degree in Sociology and SHY has a masters in Psychology although you wouldn't be able to tell by looking at us! And, yeah, we are both taken. SHY is actually getting married next year and I'm his best man. Anything you would like to share with regards to new merchandise, upcoming shows/tours or songs/albums? We will hopefully be over in America next year to record a video to a song we have with Eminem's band D12 and we will have another UK single out later on as well - hopefully. For the fans in Morayshire & Highlands - will you include us in your next tour? Definitely! We have done a few gigs in Inverness and Elgin before and they went down really well and we got a good response.

Their album, Before Too Long, is a collection of 13 tracks featuring many unlikely collaborations that work. It feels like they are just about to taste success, they are so ready and are most certainly deserved of the recognition and glory that comes with it. Look out for them, check out their cd, find them on Facebook and lets support these boys - they're fae Aberdeen, so they're ours to be proud of. To win a copy of their CD 'Before Too Long' email your answer to the question below to tamsyn@mms-publishing.scot Q: Which 2015 NSPCC campaign was SHY&D.R.S song featuring Janet Devlin 'Beautiful To Me' written & released in time for?

Mike Rae - About Nature

Spending time with the neighbours

Moray sweeps down from the high

making whisky. The forests and

Cairngorm plateau from Ben Macdui

woodland provide timber and paper.

through forest, farmland, and towns to a

The villages and towns provide rewarding

coast including Findhorn and Spey Bay, it

places to live and to help make

is a stunning part of the world. People

communities. Moray also contributes to

have lived here since the ice retreated

our national security and provides space

thousands of years ago and much of what

to have fun and relaxation.

Moray is today is a result of the work of many past generations. People are an

The richness of the wildlife living in

integral part of the natural environment.

Moray shows that the demands on the area have been managed well by past

We share Moray with elusive wild cats,

generations. However, we must be

ancient forests, wild flowers, ospreys,

careful, people now have much bigger

dolphins, flocks of wading birds and

tools and more power to mould the

insects including midges and the Scotch

environment and we should always

argus butterfly. This wildlife lives along

consider the effect of our actions on

side us, like us using Moray to provide

everything that shares our space with us.

food and shelter. Much of the area is farmland producing food and barley for

I have been privileged to visit many parts

of the world for both work and fun over the last thirty years. Wildlife and the natural environment have always been a passion for me and one I am now able to devote more time to. Penguins in the Falkland Islands, cheetahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hunting in the Serengeti and brown bears catching salmon in British Columbia rivers are a few of the wildlife events I have watched and photographed. In recent years I have become more aware of the environment and wildlife around me. This has allowed me to get to know and photograph more intimately wildlife in the UK even following individuals through the seasons and for longer. I spend time in Scotland several times through the year; I have got to know individual Ospreys that return to the Cairngorms every spring and their different fishing habits. The bottle nosed dolphins off

Spey Bay, Fort George and Channory Point are family groups that can be seen year after year, local expert Charlie Phillips has helped me get to know these residents. Kylerhea on Skye just across from the mainland is another favourite spot. The tide that races through the narrow funnel between Skye and the mainland constantly brings in fresh food and the rich bird life living here includes a pair of resident sea eagles. But I get drawn back by the otters, they can be seen nearly every day fishing on the falling and rising tides, if I am still they bring the larger fish onto the shore to eat a just few metres away from me before slipping back into the turbulent water. The Scottish Wildlife Trust is using my photographs in several of its campaigns especially those to publicise the success of Scottish ospreys. The Trust also gave me special access to the beaver reintroduction trial in the Argyll forests. Roisin Campbell-Palmer the trial leader took me by canoe close to one of the beaver lodges and we took some of the first photographs of Scottish born beaver cubs swimming with their mother. I also spent several days with adult beavers at another Argyll reintroduction trial site taking photos that the Trust has used for publicity. Close to my home in Suffolk I am working with two local farms to show how it is possible to balance the potentially conflicting needs of profitable intensive farming, commercial game bird shooting and still having lots wildlife on the farms.

My articles on this subject have been published in

a greater understanding and respect for their

the Shooting Times and are used as an education

ability to survive ever changing challenges.

resource by the National Gamekeepersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Organisation Educational Trust to train student

Over the coming months I will share with you

gamekeepers. On the same farms I have a long term

some of my experiences of spending time with the

project to follow and photograph the brown hares

wildlife that shares our space, both in Scotland

that are common here. In spending a lot of time with

and further afield. I hope to show how

them the hares have got used to me and often

understanding and being considerate of the

come very close, This intimate contact has given me

wildlife that we live with can be so rewarding.

The

Ghillie Ignore them at your peril

In previous articles about the Spey I have commented on

employed only for the duration of the fishing season,

the people who earn their living working on the river.

from mid February until The end of September when the

Possibly the best known of those are the Ghillies who look

season closes.

after the individual fishing beats, on behalf of the owner,

If you want to earn large amounts of money then life as a

and the anglers that fish on them.

Ghillie is probably not for you. Some posts come with

The name "Ghillie", a Scottish word, is a translation of the

accommodation but, increasingly, a Ghillie will have to

Gaelic "Ghille" meaning "lad" or "servant" and they were

provide his or her own living accommodation. Salaries are

employed to assist with stalking or fly fishing. Another

not high but these are topped up by the traditional tip

name, "Ghillie caisfluich" comes from the Gaelic "cos", a

which is offered by the angler in return for being well

foot or leg and "fliuch", meaning wet. Their job was to

advised and looked after during his or her time on the river.

carry their masters over burns and streams.

The people who follow this profession do it because they

The Ghillies are usually employed by the individual estates

love the river and the fish that swim it. They are very

and there is keen competition for these posts, particularly

capable, being able to turn their hand to a range of skills

on the best well known beats. These are the beats which

including carpentry, painting, boat repair and even

have the best holding pools and therefore usually produce

landscaping which will often involve bank repairs following

the largest number of Salmon.

a spate or laying a new terrace by the fishing hut for their

Although traditionally male there are now one or two

angling guests to sit on with a dram in their hand as they

ladies working as Ghillies in some parts of the Country and

tell tales of fish captured or often, the one that got away!

there is no reason why they should not be as successful as their male counterparts.

They are also usually very accomplished fly tiers producing some of the best dressed flies you will see anywhere.

There is no standard number of Ghillies on a beat, some

If you need some flies then I recommend that you discuss

have just one and others, usually the larger beats, may

your requirements with your Ghillie who will be happy

have four or five. On some estates the Ghillies are

to supply them to a very high standard and at very

permanently employed and on others they will be

competitive prices.

The Ghillies are, to a man, excellent

growing season. Banks have to kept in good shape, grass

company and can be relied upon to keep

has to be cut regularly and the fishing hut maintained to a

your spirits up when the Salmon are

high standard for the rod's comfort when they get out of

proving reluctant to accept the fly you are offering them.

the river.

The Ghillies main purpose, however, is to ensure that your

The work is hard and relentless, starting early in the day

time on his beat is as enjoyable as possible. This will entail

and often not finishing until very late, especially if the Sea

meeting and greeting you on arrival at the beat, helping

Trout are running. They have only one day off on Sunday

you set up your rods and lines and suggesting the best fly

for almost seven months.

for the time of year or the conditions on the day. He will

Although the season finishes on September 30th, the

then assign the rods to individual pools and ensure that

Ghillies work continues through Autumn and Winter. Major

they understand how best to fish that pool. It is a very

bank repairs will need completing, fishing huts repainted,

foolish angler who does not listen to the Ghillies advice

boats will need repairing and painted after a long seasons

carefully. The Ghillie knows every inch of his beat, he

use and many other tasks, often dictated by the weather,

knows where the fish will be lying at any height of water

will need to be completed. A winter of high water and

and most importantly the fly that is most likely to

spates will require trees to be removed and cut up, fences

persuade a Salmon to take.

damaged by spates will need replacing, even fishing huts

My advice to any angler, particularly to one new to the

may need major work after large spates.

beat, is to listen carefully and respectfully to his Ghillie

Over the centuries Ghillies have become an integral,

and put into practice his advice. That will provide the best

respected and much loved part of Salmon fishing

chance of taking a fish.

throughout the country.

Ghillies are usually excellent casters and will help visiting

The Ghillie's have only one aim and that is to ensure that

fishers with their casting, particularly the mysteries of the

anyone fishing their beat is well looked after and properly

Spey cast, especially if they are inexperienced.

advised to ensure that they have the best chance possible

They can be very entertaining and have a fund of tales

of catching the ultimate prize in fishing, a fresh run

from the river bank which will amuse and entertain

Spey Salmon.

for hours.

Nothing gives them greater pleasure than seeing one of

Over the years many Ghillies form life long friendships

their rods hook a fish and then helping them to land it.

with some rods which reflects the affection and respect

I hope that this short note has given some insight into the

with which they are held by many fishers.

huge contribution that the Ghillies make to the angler's

Their work is not limited to spending their days on or in

enjoyment of their time on the river.

the river with the fishers however. There is work to be done which will not wait, especially during the Summer

By Brian Doran

Fergus Ewing MSP Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Connectivity

This Month In History

January

1st: 1947 - Great Britain nationalises Railways and Coal mines.

I have two New Year resolutions for the rural economy in 2017. First, I want to do all I can to provide certainty for rural businesses in Moray. I’m determined to put 2016 CAP payments on a better footing and fulfil the commitment to deliver payments by the end of June. In the meantime, the national loan scheme has put over £260 million into the pockets of nearly 13,000 farmers and crofters, including in Moray. This is largely an advance payment on 2016 CAP entitlement - as with 2015, only in very limited circumstances, would anyone be expected to pay any of it back. So I would encourage anyone who has not applied yet to do so – the scheme remains open. I will also continue to champion the interests of Scotland’s fishing industry. Our hard work at the December fisheries council in Brussels secured additional fishing opportunities worth around £47 million, involving increased quotas in 16 out of 23 stocks and extra Arctic cod quota coming to the UK. This measure was a key concession wrought from the UK Government. My second resolution is to build growth all across rural Scotland, including in Moray. I want to see more tree planting, logging and restocking, securing and creating jobs. And I will be promoting our food and drink sector – including Moray’s whisky distilleries. The Scottish budget will invest in vital transport and digital infrastructure with work beginning to deliver 100% superfast broadband to all premises by 2021. Ensuring Moray communities get to be part of this revolution will be key. We have a vibrant and robust rural economy here in Moray and I will work with and support you throughout 2017 to build growth, generate investment and protect and create jobs.

Fergus

2nd: 1929 - Influenza Epidemic death toll over 200,000.

4th: 1981 - Truck driver Peter Sutcliffe admitted to being the "Yorkshire Ripper".

8th: 1941 - Great Britain introduces Food

Rationing using ration books

9th: 1972 - British miners first national strike

for almost 50 years.

10th: 1946 - The first General Assembly of the

United Nations Meeting.

12th: 2010 - Haiti hit by massive magnitude

7.0 earthquake.

14th: 1934 - Loch Ness Monster spotted. 15th: 1936 - Henry Ford established the

Ford Foundation.

17th: 1950 - The Great Brinks Robbery. 1983 - Breakfast TV Launched in the UK. 18th: 1967 - The Boston Strangler, Albert

DeSalvo was sentenced to life in prison.

21st: 1976 - The First Concordes with commercial passengers take off From London's Heathrow Airport and Paris Orly Airport.

22nd: 1970 - The Boeing 747 makes its first commercial passenger trip to London.

23rd: 1922 - Insulin First used. 24th: 1989 - The serial killer Ted Bundy was electrocuted.

27th: 1926 - John Logie Baird, gives the

first public demonstration of a television system in London.

just I have this problem - I reply to messages in my head

driving, I couldn't very well reply immediately and I'm not

and totally believe I've done it for real. Or, I've started a

one of those who pulls over, activates hazard lights and sees

reply and then been distracted by a child, a colleague, a

to the matter. I did compose the reply in my mind though

meme, something shiny, something delicious or something

and made a mental note to send it from the school. I didn't!

shiny AND delicious (glittery cupcakes!! He or she who

Arrived at work to a confused face asking if I'd received the

invented edible glitter should, without a doubt, get a

message. Of course I had, and I insisted I'd replied. I hadn't!

knighthood, or be given angel status. Now all my kitchen

(shamed face followed)

creations can sparkle - maybe glittery goulash is pushing it, but you know where I'm coming from... and see - there DISTRACTED!!) and this is why messages don't physically get sent. Not an excuse, a genuine explanation. This poses a problem when a reply is quite necessary and possibly urgent â&#x20AC;&#x201C; isn't everything over the festive season? I went to work early and left Darling Husband (who will be referred to as DH from now on) to get the kids to school. The arrangement is not out of the ordinary, but on this day I hadn't packed lunch for child 2. Even though I had mentioned that child 2 was, in fact, having Christmas Lunch at school and the ticket was in his wallet in the bag, DH texted and asked why I hadn't packed a lunch. The message came through while I was in a meeting and I started a reply, finished the rest in my head as my attention was needed and never got around to sending the 'final draft'. DH had hurriedly put together something that resembled a packed lunch and got child 2 to school. My fault, I hadn't replied!

Why can't mental messages become a real thing? If we can put people in space and turn on our household appliances remotely, surely mind messaging is not that far-fetched?? I was trying to be proactive and arrange a festive get together. I do sometimes initiate messages and more often than not don't finish them, leaving me wondering why the recipients would be so rude as to ignore an invite to a fabulous do! People only come if actually invited and the thought doesn't really count in these situations! So, I hope that all who messaged me over Christmas and New Year and didn't get a reply, knew that they were in my thoughts. I've no doubt that friends and family are fed up with my tardy texting behaviour so I've made a resolution to try harder, be less distracted and much more communicative on the messaging front - pretty much the same resolution I've made every year, because, let's be honest, it seems easier than losing weight or giving up wine. When mind messaging is an actual thing, they'll probably wish I'd get the mental version of laryngitis!

That same week, I was on the school run and a colleague messaged to ask if something had been added to a document. I saw the message come in but, as I was

BISH OP MILL P H A R M A C Y

For all your health, beauty & pharmaceutical needs

BISHOPMILL PHARMACY INDEPENDENT AID SUPPLIERS

NATURAL SKIN CARE

HOME BREW

AGENTS FOR BETTERLIFE PAT T E R S O N M E D I C A L AND WAYS & MEANS

HELPING YOU TO ACHIEVE AN INDEPENDENT LIFE

Also Stockists for 20 North St, Bishopmill, Elgin IV30 4EF 01343 547374 / 547393 â&#x20AC;¢ bishopmillpharmacy.co.uk

Check out the Kodak Momments app

CELEBRATIONS OF TURRIFF

Department Store and Restaurant

Pot oor me-ones P

Appearance These birds are known for their eerie and unusual appearance. They’re big, growing to about 21 to 58 cm in length. They resemble nightjars and frogmouths. They have large heads for their body size and long tail feathers and wings. Their large heads are dominated by their massive, broad bill and huge eyes that are bright yellow in colour. In fact, the classic book “Handbook of the Birds of the World” describes the potoo as nothing more than a flying mouth with eyes. This actually makes them look adorable, yet creepy at the same time. Their bill, while broad and large, is short and barely projects past their face. It’s delicate and has a unique “tooth” which is used by the bird as a cutting edge to help with foraging. As mentioned, they lack the rictal bristles around the mouth as nightjars have. Their legs and feet are not that strong and are only used for perching.

Call These birds are also called ‘poor-me-ones’, after local legends that say their cry brings bad luck and even death to those who hear it. Their cry sounds similar to

There are a number of magnificent and sometimes strange bird species in the wild. Some come in amazing colours and a charming, sweet voice, while others are better known for their odd attributes. Take for example the bird known as Potoo. Not only does their name sound strange, they also look strange, and even sound strange. This is a short editorial about this bird, what it looks like, and the local legends of this majestic bird. As the moon rises in Central America and Northern South America, this rare bird flies over the wetlands and forests. Potoos belong to the family Nyctibiidae and related closely to frogmouths and nightjars, although they lack the bristles around their mouth which separates them from true nightjars. There are several species of this bird found in Central and South America. Some of these birds populate the southern most regions of south America, but rarely are they seen there.

stump is compromised or when their cover has been blown. Potoos are monogamous and both male and female share responsibility for incubating their egg and caring for the chick. They don’t construct a nest, instead the female lays her single egg on a depression in the branch or on a stump. Potoo eggs are white with brown and purple spots. Males often incubate the egg during the day then the duties are shared at night. It takes the eggs about a month to hatch and they stay in the nest for about two months. Baby potoos have white someone groaning and moaning for help, which already sounds creepy enough to hear during the night. Potoos make their call when looking for mates and when defending themselves.

Camouflage They’re masters of camouflage, blending into the branches of dead trees as naturally as they can. Potoos are known to stay completely still, with their heads facing up, mimicking a dead branch when a potential predator is close by. Their eyes are larger than those of the nightjar, and since they’re nocturnal birds, can reflect light. The potoo often keeps their eyes closed during the day so as not to attract predators and blow

feathers, which then turn brown as they age. Their white feathers still provide camouflage as it resembles clumps of fungi on the tree. Other than relying on camouflage to keep them hidden and protected from predators, potoos are also known to exhibit mobbing behaviour. This is a common behaviour amongst birds wherein a group of birds would deliberately confront a predator. They would crowd around the predator, approaching and retreating, and sometimes even chase and attack the predator.

They would make loud noises repeatedly,

which intimidates the predator and attract other potoo to join the mobbing.

their cover. They have unusual slits on their lids, which

Keeping them in captivity

allow them to sense any movement, even when they

Potoos, because of how well they blend into their

have their eyes closed.

surrounding, are hardly ever seen. They're definitely

Since they’re more active at night, this is probably why

mysterious as there's little known about them.

legends about them tend to be more dark and dreary.

Although their population in the wild is of lease

However, as haunting and “scary” these animals might

concern by conservationists, damage in their

look and sound, they’re actually insectivores and are

environment has caused these bird's population to

completely harmless. They hunt insects by waiting on a

deplete. You don't get to see these birds often in

branch perching like a flycatcher or shrike. During the

captivity. There are a few zoos and animal centres that

day, they stay on the branch or perched on a stump

keep them captive to understand their behaviour.

with their eyes half closed, not moving an inch. They

As for keeping them as pets, people want to keep

even lay their eggs on the stump and the mother potoo

them as one because their large eyes make them look

would stay with the egg until it hatches and the chick

cute, but do you really want a screeching potoo waking

matures. They only fly away when they feel that their

you up in the middle of the night?

He fell from the sky one warm Spring day, his descent

Even the adults, who urged Mr and Mrs Sparrow to get

slowed by a shiny red sweetie wrapper, a little grey

rid of their imposter before he grew into something

egg with a small chip on the left-hand side. Mr and

dangerous. Felix had the all the characteristics of an

Mrs Sparrow watched him fall with a mixture of alarm

owl, yet he wasn’t one, not a barn owl nor an eagle owl,

and shock, more so perhaps because he landed

in fact he was unlike any other bird in the forest.

neatly between their own precious bundle of little

Then one calm bright day, Mr and Mrs Sparrow taught

speckled eggs. Mr Sparrow hopped anxiously to

their children to fly, a wondrous day full of excitement

remove the invader from their home, before noticing

and danger, Felix flew high with his family, swirling and

a small leaf stuck to the front with tree sap. It read:

laughing as he weaved between the branches. Looking toward the forest floor he swooped down over a large puddle of water, in that moment he saw his family, and

And so the Sparrows watched the little egg, and kept him

he saw himself, a great big strange bird amongst a

warm as if he were their own, and despite his chip he

group of little sparrows, and he finally understood why

hatched right on time with his new siblings. They called

all the other birds laughed at him so, and why he

him ‘Felix Ove’ meaning ‘lucky egg’ in Latin. An unusual

couldn’t hide behind the leaves with his siblings. Felix

little creature, with large eyes almost too big for his head

was different, and as much as he loved his home and

and a funny upturned beak. He was a big bundle of fluff

family in the great Oak, he wanted to know who he

and so much larger than the others, yet he was loved

really was, and where he truly belonged.

and hugged, and for a while he didn’t notice he was

Carrying some small belongings in the red sweetie

different, until he got so big that the Sparrows had to

wrapper that had carried him down from the sky to

relocate to a new home in a large Oak.

safety, he hugged his parents and siblings. “You will

Felix’s brothers and sisters didn’t mind that he looked

always be my family” he whispered, and Mrs Sparrow

different, even when hide and seek became impossible

whispered back with a tear in her eye, “And this will

because he was too big to hide behind the leaves. The

always be your home”

other birds in neighbouring nests would make fun of him.

Felix’ greatest adventure was about to begin…

...who is he? And where did he come from?

WIN LUNCH FOR 2

at the newly refurbished Elgin Coffee Shop To win please message ‘BIJOU’ to tamsyn@mms-publishing.scot competition closes 31st January 2017

dates for your diary...

JANUARY

25-28

World Snow Day

An Evening of Song" with Kinloss

Scottish Ballet: Hansel & Gretel

Glencoe Mountain Resort. 2nd phase of

Military Wives' Choir

Eden Court Theatre . Christopher

the Bring Children to the Snow

7.30pm, Burghead Parish Church

Hampson choreographs Scottish Ballet's

campaign, promoting snow sports to

£5 (incl refreshments), U12s - Free.

lavish production of the classic folk tale.

children between 4 &14. Call 01885 851226 for info.

19-21 Varis Players presents Little Red

21-22 The Strathpuffer

Call 01463 234234 for tickets and info.

24-hr endurance event considered one

Torridon - Burns Night Special

of the top ten toughest mountain bike

8pm at Ironworks, Inverness

events in the world.

For information and tickets call 0871

Riding Hood

789 4173 visit www.ironworksvenue.com

7:30pm and a matinee on 21st at

Big Burns Stramash

2:30pm in Forres Town Hall. A tale of a

Eden Court. A weekend of events in

town, a wolf and... cabbages! See Varis

celebration of the national bard.

Players Facebook Page for information.

Family-friendly workshops, storytelling, a

Aviemore Sled Dog Rally

film screening, an outdoor performance

9am Glenmore, Aviemore. Two-day

and ceilidhs for adults and kids. For

timed trials held by the Siberian Husky

times & prices call 01463 234234

Club of Great Britain which take place

NOVEMBER

WINNERS STATION HOTEL Keith Ballam

24 Night Afore - Alternative Burns Supper Malt Barn Café and Bar hosts rising

GORDON CASTLE

Canadian folk star Carly Dow as part of

Yvonne Dewhurst

bistro-style Burns supper. For more

SMADUG Lynn Amanda Kyle

special evening celebration with a

details call 01340 820

28-29

each year in Aviemore. For more info visit www.siberianhuskyclub.org.uk

28 Scottish Snowdrop Festival until 15 Mar 17, 9am - 5pm at Brodie Castle. Free with donations welcomed. £2 Parking charge. For further information please call 01309 641371

25 Burns' Night

FRAMED PRINT Dorothy Shewan 80

Tributes to Robert Burns are paid at the annual Burns Supper at various locations.

magazines

buy one soup get one FREE

What are are the benefits of using aof Personal What the benefits usingTrainer? a

If you're a little under the weather your trainer can

Personal Trainer?

monitor your intensity carefully. These sessions are so

A personal trainer will identify your goals, availability

Pleasethat present this trainers even have their beneficial most personal

and the trainer things you enjoy, formulate a plan with the and right A personal will ascertain your goals, availability

own trainers! Like you, they are busy people balancing

andenjoy, recovery periods which the mix typesofofexercise things you and then a plan canwill be avoid

many roles. We all know it's important to exercise, but it

WIN

a bottle of Vintage Champagne

counter-productive over-training thus your formulated. A good exercise plan has the rightmaking mix of exercise regime more efficient. don't counter-productive have to worry about types and recovery periods,You avoiding which exercises be personal doing, how many setsyour or over-training. Trainingyou withwill your trainer makes repsmore or whether you don't are doing them correctly. You regime efficient. You have to worry about which have the full be attention of anmany expert yourorfitness exercises you will doing, how setsand or reps whether customised for any orfull health you program are doingisthe exercises correctly. Youinjuries have the concerns. They and canyour liaise your medical attention of an expert fitness with program is customised

DEVERONhomes

professional createconcerns. the best exercise plan for you and for any injuries ortohealth Your personal trainer can will also nag you mercilessly doing liaise with your medical professionalabout to create thethe bestrehab exercises you'd otherwise neglect! Most people see exercise plan for you. They can also you mercilessly To WIN email the nag words

coupon at time of purchase.

Offer ends 31st

✁ ALSO WIN High Tea for 2

can be hard to2017 position exercising into the "important" January category. There will always be pressing domestic or professional tasks that get in the way but making an appointment with your trainer makes your exercise "important" - you are then committed and it's easier to attend than it is to cancel! Booking 5 weeks of sessions is an ideal kick-start to your fitness regime. You may find you can go it alone after that. Or you may find that once you start enjoying your sessions and the benefits your

at Christies of Fochabers

personal trainer provides, it's something you just can't

‘DEVERON HOMES CHAMPAGNE’ their Personal Trainer once or twiceotherwise a week. Ifto you have about doing the rehab exercises you'd neglect!

live without! To win please message ‘HIGH TEA CHRISTIES’ to

a lower body niggle yourgives trainer can on the upper. in Having one-on-one training you thefocus ultimate flexibility

tamsyn@mms-publishing.scot Competition closes 31st Jan 2017 www.fun-keyfitness.com

tamsyn@mms-publishing.scot by Tues, 31st Jan.

how you meet your goals.

www.fun-keyfitness.com

Fun-Key Personal Training • Massage

Fitness

Fitness Classes • Reflexology

Helen Teasdale

MA (Hons) in Human Biology, BSc (Hons) in Sports Science

t: 01309 691744 m: 07969 563830

Proud to be sponsoring

•

teasy70@live.co.uk www.fun-keyfitness.com Easter Woodside, Kinloss, Forres IV36 3UA 81

An interview with

Jody Marshall

General Manager - The Macallan Estate 1. When did you start working at The Macallan?

5. Who is the biggest influence in your life, either in the present or in your past life?

I am the newest kid on the block so to speak. I started working for The Macallan in June 2016

I feel that we are all sculpted by our parents and so, naturally, they influence our lives. I am fortunate to have 2 fantastic parents who are more like friends to me. My family influence my life too and affect my decisions on a day to day basis.

2. What is your favourite Macallan? At the moment I am really enjoying The Macallan Double Cask. This 12 year old, single malt has been aged in a combination of American oak and ex-sherry casks. I really enjoy it’s richness that combines fruity citrus and caramel with spicy ginger and nutmeg

I do feel that, growing up, my geography teacher had a huge influence on my life. She believed in me and helped build the foundation I scaffold my career on today. Teachers are very important people!

3. What do you do in your spare time? I am an avid fisherman. I caught my first Spey Salmon at The Macallan beat on the last day of the 2016 fishing season. I enjoy lazy days on the boat with my family with a line in the water. I also enjoy classic cars and spending quality time with my family. 4. Tell us about your family. I have been married to Michelle for 16 years. We have a young daughter, Isabella, who is 11. The fourth member of our family is Maggie, our Border collie.

6. Where do you see yourself in 10 years? On a beach, feet up, fishing rod in my hand… (Then I wake up). I hope to still be working in Speyside – Perfecting The Macallan. 7.What do you enjoy the most about your job? Honestly, every day I am living the dream. I work within a very diverse environment that has multi-faceted aspects – every day is different. I work within a very supportive team who share my goal for success. The best thing about by job is the people I work with.

The Macallan, Easter Elchies, Craigellachie AB38 9RX

The Macallan @The_Macallan @The_Macallan

JAN UAR Y

2 0 17

Morlich homes have a great range of 3 bedroom detached and semi detached villas offering flexible living in a convenient central location only a few minutes walk from the Lossiemouth Marina. Finished to Morlich Homes high standard each home features an opportunity for clients to fully customise their home to an exact design and specification. n

Oak internal doors and finishings

Choice of kitchens and bathrooms

To enquire about our homes today

01542 836510

Prices starting from £169,950

or Email: enquiries@morlich.co.uk

Contact our sales team today

To find out more... Visit our showhome at: 4 Fairway Road . Buckie . AB56 4HJ Open Tuesday to Friday 12noon to 5pm Saturday - 12noon to 4pm

and find out how we can help you realise your dream home.

D E V E LO P M E N T S

A L S O

AVAILABLE

AT:

O N LY 2 R E M A I N I N G

CASTLEWOOD

SPEY BAY LINKS

HIGHFIELD GARDENS

ALTONBURN LINKS

FOCHABERS

SPEY BAY

BUCKIE

NAIRN

3,4 & 5 bedroom bungalows and villas

6 luxury homes with panoramic sea views

3,4 & 5 bedroom bungalows and villas

3,4 & 5 bedroom luxury bungalows and villas

FROM £184,500

FROM £289,000

FROM £229,000

FROM £345,000

W W W. M O R L I C H. CO.UK

P R O D U C E D A N D P R I N T E D I N M O R AY

NOW RELEASED