In Lady V’s Shoes

I cannot believe that it is already coming up to summer. Aft er the Groundhog Day experience that was 2020, this year seems to be fl ying by. I for one, cannot get over the fact that my children will soon be fi nishing school for the summer holidays. I feel like they have only just gone back! And, if my ti me in lockdown has taught me anything, it is (regrett ably) not how to speak a new language or bake soda bread, but rather that my children are, in fact, feral.

So, needless to say, I am going to have to come up with some exciti ng ways to keep them entertained over the summer months. Ways, that we have not already 20 exhausted. Thankfully, things are fi nally starti ng to reopen, so this

A column on village life from Victoria Kennedy

should not be as hard to achieve as it was this ti me last year. Gone are the days when I was desperately trying to make learning how to use the dishwasher as fun an acti vity as possible.

I have planned to ensure that my kids are outdoors as oft en as I can over the summer holidays. This is, aft er all, something that is proven to be good for the mind, body, and soul. Aft er the year we have all had, this is something that I am very pro. As such, I will be signing them up to some of the summer holiday clubs at Knockiehill Woodland Centre. My children have previously gone to some of the other sessions there and had an absolute blast. Also, and perhaps just as importantly, I managed to get a much welcome break while they were having fun in the woods.

Pip and Stu Wright who run KWC both have a clear view on the importance of outdoor acti viti es for children’s wellbeing. They also happen to both be a lot more creati ve than I could even pretend to be. We now have two cracking bird houses in our garden thanks to KWC, as well as some festi ve Christmas reindeer. Neither of these craft s would have been even att empted with me on duty (and they very clearly weren’t).

So “Hurrah” for the return of the warmer months, and “Hurrah” for the return of fun acti viti es for all. While things may not be back to the normal of 2019, there is now certainly a lot more to feel hopeful about.

We are volunteers providing the views of the community to those making decisions about it.

What Do We Do? Some of the things we’ve recently supported or delivered

Professional Future Viability Study Planning applications

Businesses & facilities map Planned new outdoor seating for Aboyne

Review & comment

Flood Risk Reduction

New Aboyne noticeboard

New seating for Aboyne Green Road Safety

Landscaping & greenery

Improvements

How Do We Work? We have monthly virtual/public meetings, but much of our work is carried between meetings, working with groups of people with a common interest. How much and what you get involved in is very much your choice.

Why Join MDCC? You can work on things which matter to you, enjoy a sense of purpose and camaraderie, whilst benefiting the wider Mid Deeside population.

Nominations now open!

Nominations are being sought to fill 13 vacancies on Mid Deeside Community Council.

Forms must be returned by 4pm on Thursday 3 June, 2021 to marr@aberdeenshire.gov.uk and a ballot will take place on Thursday 10 June, 2021, (time and place to be confirmed), if the nominees outnumber the places available.

The community council’s AGM will take place online on Thursday 24 June, 2021 at 7pm. For further information to join

the AGM, please contact: middeesidecommunitycouncil@gmail.com

Nomination forms can be downloaded from the Council’s website at https://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/communitiesand-events/community-councils/cc-election/ or for assistance please contact the Marr Office at 019755 20400 or email marr@aberdeenshire.gov.uk

When times are tough, don’t stop ADVERTISING!

The Fountain relies on advertising to pay for design and printing and it means a lot that so many regular customers have continued to advertise during the Covid calamity.

Always delighted to welcome new advertisers, I have opened up opportunities with a new value ad size, see p34.

At Myriad Pro Publishing, advertisers are not just a space on a page. All advertisers benefit from featuring in a Facebook album every quarter, and where advertisers’ own posts are seen on that social media platform, they will be shared. Feel free to tag The Fountain to make sure.

New customers can also benefit from introductory features, and there are perks to being a long-term advertiser too, as well as discounts for featuring in the Alford and Banchory publications.

The business landscape and publicity methods are changing all the time, and especially at the moment! So if you have any ideas on how The Fountain can further support you, do let me know.

No matter if you are on the main street, out in the sticks, working from your spare room or just operating online, I can help.

Have you started a new business in the Aboyne area? Want a mention? Get in touch.

The Fountain represents a unique opportunity for you to promote your business to a targetted area at reasonable cost. Ad rates start at just £27 for a quarter page. Around 1,500 copies are distributed through the doors of residences in the village, prominent spots in the local community and within businesses willing to stock it. Geographically it covers Aboyne and the surrounding areas and includes Tarland. All Myriad Pro Publications are also available to read online at issuu.com

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