The Heartland Buzz - Issue 3

July 2015 | Issue No.3

www.heartlandbuzz.co.uk | Find us on Facebook

JML GARDEN ROOMS Sustainable Spaces to

YOUR

FREE

MONT MAGAZHLY INE

Live, Work & Play.

ANGUS ROSS

Skydance at Dawn

Bending, moulding, sculpting and folding wood to create remarkable furniture.

LAWERS OF GRAVITY

Perthshire’s ski competition on Ben Lawers.

RHINO

Lio Balland’s New Aberfeldy Restaurant.

RECIPE OF THE MONTH FROM THE SCOTTISH CRANNOG CENTRE

HIGHLAND PERTHSHIRE MARATHON

LAUNCH NIGHT AT ERRICHEL

MAINS OF TAYMOUTH COURTYARD

DELIGHT DELI OPENS ITS DOORS

22 TRAVELLING THE CRIEFF ROAD 46 MICHELLE MORTON 54 FORTINGALL ART

02 Contents

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

08

Sport & events

12

THE HIGHLAND PERTHSHIRE MARATHON

Local Business

MAINS OF TAYMOUTH COURTYARD The Courtyard Shop will celebrate

Time to hunt out your trainers, or your bike, or perhaps both!

its 10th birthday on the 18th of July 2015.

Furniture and public art

ANGUS ROSS Bending, moulding, sculpting and folding

14

wood to create remarkable furniture. We take a look behind the scenes with Angus.

18

New Local Business

DELIGHT DELI

Wildlife & Nature

Welcome to our

SKYDANCE AT DAWN

monthly nature and wildlife pages from a variety of contributors.

20

New Local Business

RHINO

22

Art & Creativity

TRAVELLING THE CRIEFF ROAD

24

28

Food & Drink

Local Business

RECIPE OF THE MONTH

LAUNCH NIGHT AT ERRICHEL

From The Scottish Crannog

Patrons Paul & Rebecca

Centre, plus wine from House

Newman, open to 80 guests.

of Menzies.

30

34 35

From Glen Lyon

MEL’S DIARY

Food & Drink

THYME TO TASTE

Contents

The Heartland Buzz Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place!

36

53

03

Health & Fitness

OUCH MY BACK

READ THE BUZZ ONLINE You can now read all our previous issues online!

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www.issuu.com/theheartlandbuzz

Lifestyle

MAGAZINE PICK UP POINTS!

JML GARDEN ROOMS

Art & Creativity

Sustainable Spaces to Live, Work & Play.

FORTINGALL ART

Aberfeldy Audrey Slorance Gallery, Delight Deli & Habitat Cafe. Pitlochry

Fortingall Art is Highland Perthshire’s most prestigious annual art exhibition, held every summer since 2004, in the village of Fortingall.

46

Honest Thistle, Tourist Information Centre, Cafe Calluna and Melt Gallery & Cafe.

Strathtay Strathtay stores. Kinloch Rannoch The Country Store. Ballinluig The Post Office & Rivers Meet Cafe.

Kenmore Karelia House. Dunkeld Going Pottie. Blair Atholl Heart of Atholl.

We are looking into more locations, so if you have a local business and would like to kindly give up a little space for The Heartland Buzz, then we would love to hear from you.

56

KEEPING IT SOCIAL! Find us on Facebook Art & Creativity

Keep up to date with latest Buzz, our

MICHELLE MORTON Scottish Artist Michelle Morton pursues her dream of working full time in her studio in Abernethy, Perthshire.

Sports & Events

magazine pick up points and all our

LAWERS OF GRAVITY

latest adventures!

This year, Perthshire saw its first ski competition on Ben Lawers for almost 60 years.

We are going green. All our paper is sourced from well-managed forests.

When you are finished with any printed material from us, help us keep our planet green and please recycle.

50 Things to see

OUT OF THE EARTH

58

Gardening

GROWING WITH ROSIE

62 ADVERTISING RATES

04 From the Editor

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

Welcome to The Heartland Buzz The third issue in and there is so much on

quarterly and occasional columns so a

that is just right! “Pleasure in the job puts

the horizon over the next few months!

big thank you to all of you for helping the

perfection in the work.”

Not only do we have some great ideas at

magazine grow. If you would be interested

The Heartland Buzz HQ, the community

in contributing then we would love to hear

are coming to us with some very exciting

about it.

projects and we will keep you all posted as things progress.

remainder of the year and our issue deadlines are listed below. Our time between

The magazine is ever evolving and we will

issues is gradually becoming less which

always strive to make it better and better.

means more magazines, more often!

There are so many local businesses and

You may notice the magazine itself has

community members that are now con-

gone through a little design overhaul and

tributing to the magazine with monthly,

we will keep going until we get a magazine

“

“

Fantastic results from this vibrant new magazine!

We have worked out our schedule for the

Delighted with my article in The Heartland Buzz!

As always, enjoy the magazine!

Colin

ISSUES DEADLINES August | Issue No.4

24th JULY

Just one day after its second publica-

Thrilled to see one of my paintings

tion I was delighted to welcome new

on the front cover. I have had lots of

customers who had seen my article and

positive responses from people and as a

were inspired to get started on their up-

direct result had queries and sales with

cycling projects! I’m happy to say it’s just

new customers coming from Kinloch

going from strength to strength as more

Rannoch and Pitlochry. The magazine is

Oct/Nov | Issue No.6

people come through the door.

beautifully designed with loads of visual

8th OCTOBER

This was just the boost my small busi-

appeal.

September | Issue No.5

31st AUGUST

ness was needing and so I’d like to say a

A huge thank you to Colin for the

December | Issue No.7

huge ‘thank you’ to Heartland Buzz for

opportunity to get my artwork known in

getting me ‘out there’ .

homes all across Highland Perthshire’

16th NOVEMBER

Karen, Heart Of Atholl

Audrey, Audrey Slorance Gallery

Distribution dates are approx.

15 days after the deadline date.

Want to talk?

If you are looking for further information, or need any assistance, you can contact us during office hours Monday to Friday 9.00am - 5.30pm. Alternatively you can email us anytime or visit our website.

T

01887 840736

FB The Heartland Buzz

M

07709 502457

E hello@heartlandbuzz.co.uk

www.heartlandbuzz.co.uk

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JML Garden Rooms - The Arns, Auchterarder, Perthshire PH3 1EJ Email: info@jmlgardenrooms.co.uk Tel: 01764 663668

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SuStainable SpaceS to live, work & play

GUARA

www.jmlgardenrooms.co.uk

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08 Furniture and public art

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

ANGUS

ROSS Furniture designer/ maker Angus Ross has been working from a studio-workshop tucked around the corner from The Square in Aberfeldy since 2002.

HELPING CREATIVES STAY CREATIVE!

www.angusross.co.uk

Furniture and public art

The Heartland Buzz Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place!

Many of us peer through the window to see what’s new when there’s a chance to walk along Burnside. The Heartland Buzz had a chance to look behind the scenes.

How did you become a designer/ maker?

As a child I was always using my hands for my own projects or woodwork, gardening and metal-work with my father and cooking, knitting, sewing with my mother.

We lived out of town (Inverness) with no TV so I had to do something! I enjoyed art and maths at school and thought I would train to become an architect - but then I

found out about Industrial Design. I have a BSc from Napier University and we studied

didn’t feel the job was quite right.

In 1999 I had time out in Kenya

materials, manufacturing processes

(Operation Raleigh and travel) and decided

and the design process - all of which still

to change path. I re-trained in practical

fascinate me.

furniture making at Rycotewood College

After graduating I moved to London

in Oxfordshire. Sadly the course doesn’t

and worked for a company (Bissel) and

exist anymore. Like many colleges and

designed for mass manufacture of

art schools they are closing workshops.

injection moulded plastic products for the

However I had the chance to get back to

high street, including pushchairs, toys and

using my hands and I have been able to

potties for Mothercare and toothbrushes

combine designing and making in wood

for Boots. I became Design Manager, but

ever since.

09

10 Furniture and public art

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

To make the loops of the FORTH BENCH lengths of green oak were bent round an existing jig, which I had used for external benches commissioned for the John Muir Way last year. I then worked out how to twist and bend a single length of oak into a spiral to create the arm of the love-seat and provide a framework to anchor the loops. As I wanted the bench

Tell us about the furniture you have recently shown at the Saatchi Gallery in London?

Contemporary Applied Arts Gallery, London invited me to present a new collection of work at COLLECT: The International Art Fair for Contemporary Objects held in the Saatchi Gallery.

I took the second WHISKY COLLECTORS CABINET - a limited edition of ten. The first was made for Design Shanghai last year. I designed

shelved display area. These display doors

to appear light and effortless the hand-

then open to reveal much more storage inside. Lastly, there are secret storage areas - all storage benefits from elements of secrecy and surprise! The shape and construction of the cabinet itself references the staves of whisky barrels. It is all made in solid wood and I always use native hardwood timbers where possible.

The second piece - the FORTH BENCH is a sculptural love-seat

turned struts were minimised and each

made specially for COLLECT.

one links to both a loop and the spiral. (The

I wanted to use only oak, sourced

combination of interesting structure and

locally and that lends itself to steam-

clean flowing lines can be seen in much of

bending green (undried) oak, which is a

Angus’s furniture).

technique our

I also took the RIBBON WRITING

workshop is

DESK, which combines a sculpted solid

known for. (The

oak ergonomic desk with a bent wood

workshop has been

hood providing storage niches, a drawer

short-listed for

and small cupboard. This will be limited to

the TRA-DA UK

an edition of ten.

Wood Awards four times, with steam-bent designs ranging from a stool to a series of Sculptural Fishing Platforms). it for an imagined Chinese collector of whisky. I thought around the notion and function of a collection and came up with storage, enjoyable interaction and display.

The design then went in the direction of revealing a collection of whiskies in a series of stages. When the doors open there is a

Making a piece speculatively for an exhibition gives me a chance to work in a much more free way - I can be led by my

The desk was made by Senior Furniture

hands and the design evolves during the

Maker Steven Gray, who has worked me

making process. Steam-bending is also

for over ten years. Our apprentice Mike

quite a physical, unpredictable process

Storey made some sculptural storage

compared to other techniques we use.

vessels for the exhibition.

Furniture and public art

The Heartland Buzz Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place!

When you are exhibiting at international shows what do you tell people about Aberfeldy?

People often want to talk about wood. They love touching well finished hard woods and I tell them how fortunate I am to source wood from a local woodland.

Shortly after I moved to Aberfeldy I was invited to buy into a

ANGUS ROSS furniture workshop welcome visitors but request this is done by phoning ahead.

The showroom will be open on Aberfeldy Market Days, first Sunday of the month between 10am - 2pm.

t. 01887 829857 e. angus@angusross.co.uk www.angusross.co.uk

cooperatively owned mixed woodland, a few miles downstream from the work-shop. I can now source oak from the woodland as part of a Forestry Management Plan, written by co-owner and native woodland expert Dr Rick Worrell. Like much of the native woodlands in the UK the wood had been neglected for years and thinning a few trees each year now helps the remaining trees.

The other thing people are always fascinated to find out is that there are still work-shops like ours using traditional hand techniques. People are often quite moved by this, as they

IMAGES ON LEFT PAGETop-left: FORTH BENCH, Steam-bent and hand-turned solid oak sourced from Old Castle Wood, Grandtully. Photography ŠNigel Lumsden. Bottom-left: RIBBON DESK, Sculpted and steam-bent solid local oak. Top-right: WHISKY

associate it with the workshops they had visited as children -

COLLECTORS CABINET, Oak and sycamore.

this was particularly noticeable in China, after decades without

Bottom-right: JOHN MUIR BENCH.

this kind of work being done, but with a history of amazing woodwork.

GET YOUR WORK FEATURED NEXT MONTH

FREE

11

12 Sport & events

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

“TIME TO HUNT OUT YOUR TRAINERS OR YOUR BIKE, OR PERHAPS BOTH!”

All

proceeds raised

goes to

charity JOIN OVER 500 PARTICIPANTS

The

Highland Perthshire Marathon The Marathon & Half Marathon RUN or BIKE is now in its 4th year and will take place on Saturday 5th September 2015.

I

n 2010, well known Aberfeldy resident Stewart McNeish decided to take a not too leisurely bicycle trip on

a circuitous route from his home in Aberfeldy, through Weem to Comrie Bridge and on to picturesque Kenmore, returning to Aberfeldy through the Taymouth

“

local good causes.

It took two years of meticulous planning to see his idea come to fruition, with Stewart taking

Perhaps the most scenic marathon to run or bike.”

Castle Estate.

Little did Stewart realise that his

on the role of Events Director and utilising his vast organisational skills and experience as a retired Army Major and his local connections

in bringing the event together. The

exertions that day would be nothing in

first Marathon, for runners only on that

comparison to the efforts that he would be

occasion, was held in 2012.

undertaking in future years as a result of this particular cycle trip.

Stewart had noted that the route

The now well established Aberfeldy & District Rotary Club organised event titled The Highland Perthshire Marathon and

he had undertaken was the equivalent

Half Marathon RUN or BIKE is now in its 4th

distance of a half marathon and he was

year and will take place on Saturday 5th

struck on the idea of involving his fellow

September 2015, starting and finishing in

Rotarians from the Aberfeldy & District

the Showground at Wades Park, courtesy

Rotary Club in organising an annual

of local farmer Donny Campbell.

Marathon to raise monies for Charities and

As the title suggests, participants

Sport & events

The Heartland Buzz Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place!

have the option of running or cycling a half

personal sponsorship monies for any

businesses declaring it their busiest

or full marathon or indeed, if so minded,

Charity of their choice, or for any of the

day of the year. The evening Ceilidh

combining different categories on the

four mentioned Charities.

at the Moness Resort was also a huge

day and participants should note that the event takes place as an OPEN ROAD EVENT. For the few, the event is a serious run or bike but for the vast majority this is a fun day out, enjoying the company and atmosphere that the event brings to all the participants.

There are various age categories for the Run Events, from age 17 through to over 60’s and

“

There are various age categories for the Run Events from age 17 through to over 60’s”

for the cycle events from aged 12 years

success, with over 300 people, despite

This year, for the first time, the Event will include

some tired limbs, enjoying the evening

competitors

entertainments.

representing the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force who are taking part in the Annual Scottish Tri-Service Championships. This will introduce a new dimension to the Highland Perthshire Event.

All such events, however, are indebted

onward qualifying to take part.

to the generous goodwill afforded by

All proceeds raised from entry monies

Sponsors and Aberfeldy and District

each year goes to Aberfeldy and District

If you are thinking of entering the event then the Rotary Club organisers and sponsors believe that you are guaranteed value for your entry fee money including:

Medal for each competitor completing the course

Personalised Certificate giving

Rotary are particularly grateful to the very

competitors their course

Rotary Club for distribution to their

many local businesses who sponsor the

completion time.

Charities of choice, but a significant

event each year, at whatever level, and

donation is given to participating Charities

whom are too numerous to mention here.

who involved themselves in the Event on

The Rotary Club must make a special

the day, manning watering stations and

mention to the Scottish and Southern

assisting with Marshalling duties.

Energy Griffin Fund and also to the Moness

This year the four Charities are the

Resort, as main sponsors, for their

Perthshire based SCAA

generous continued support.

(Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance), CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young), CHAS (Children’s Hospice Association Scotland) and MAGGIES. Each competitor can simply run or cycle for fun or preferably they can raise

Post run/bike refreshment

Shower and leg massage

Pasta meal at Friday night

Registration, Moness Resort

The 2014 event was hugely successful,

with over 500 participants raising £15,000 to the Rotary Club Charity Account. In addition, the event brought in an estimated

Free Car Parking at Wades Park start/finishing point.

Free Camping if required

Free entry to Ceilidh at Moness Resort Saturday evening

1200 people to the town of Aberfeldy, with the added spin off with some local

For full details of the event, registration fees and how to register visit highlandperthshiremarathon.co.uk with online booking via Entry Central on the website.

13

14 Local business

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

THE COURTYARD SHOP CELEBRATES ITS 10TH BIRTHDAY!

O

n the 19th of July The

supermarkets. Nothing should ever be too

Courtyard Shop will celebrate

much trouble!

its 10th birthday. As part

Marion reminds us that “When we

space in Kenmore?

Now with Mike as part of the team we even had cause to celebrate a wedding last

opened it was in the days before Tesco

year. Without the design expertise and the

Holiday Village Development, along with

and Asda delivered to these exotic parts.

constant cheery help and support of our

The Courtyard Bar and Restaurant, both

It is always a reality check when at 4.45pm

other partners, The Burns, we would have

have seen the beautiful Highland village of

on a Friday afternoon the vans begin to

found the going a greater challenge.

Kenmore become a must on the Scottish

appear and by 5.15pm the customers who

holiday destination calendar.

they delivered to appear in our shop saying

to become journalists, marine biologists,

“If only we had known all this was here”

nurses, teachers and designers and great

Them’s the challenges!

mums and dads too.

of the Mains of Taymouth

Since opening The Courtyard Shop, owners Henry and Marion Murdoch have stuck to the tried and tested retail offer

We have been very lucky with our staff

Other staffing stalwarts have gone on

We have always had students from

of great customer service and a selection

since opening, Jo has been with us since

Breadalbane Academy, often starting off

of stock, which is quirky and not readily

before even that, sitting up in the shed at

on work experience, then a Saturday job,

available on the High Street or in the

Kerrycroy wondering, along with the rest

then Uni holidays. “Its great watching

of us, what would we put into that huge big

COME JOIN THE CELEBRATIONS!

Get

10% everything

off

Sunday 19th July

these kids go from strength to strength and see their careers develop, but that’s probably just the teacher in me” says Henry.

Since opening we have been really keen to promote local producers and makers and living in Perthshire we have plenty to choose from. During the summer when we have all the soft fruits available we have almost 30 local suppliers in the Deli. People on holiday are keen to know where the food they are buying comes from and if we have a back story it is something else our visitors

“

Since opening we have been really keen to promote local producers and makers”

will have learned about the area they have chosen to holiday in.

The winter can be long and pretty lonely in not so sunny Kenmore, so we have had

to actively build our online businesses to help these out of season months. We have developed our Oils and Vinegars Bar within the shop and now send bottles and pouches out online through www.oilsandvinegars.com. We also have our www.foodofscotland.com website, on which we post out the very best food and drink Scotland has to offer, all over Britain.

Seasonality and the weather are among the biggest challenges many small independent outfits such as ourselves face working in Highland Perthshire.

We are committed to offering full time employment where possible and only close on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, so we are always thankful when the holiday houses fill up for New Year in particular, giving everyone a lift.

We also now make products such as our “Wee Thanks For” boxes and send them out to other retailers all over the country. Our own Kenmore branded food goes from strength to strength, along with the bespoke hampers we make up for people who are here on holiday for them to take home as gifts.

I think coming to Kenmore for many people stirs memories of their youth, camping with parents, or first sorties into being grown up. We are very lucky to be able to be part of the new experiences these people are having and perhaps creating the memories for future generations who come here to Kenmore and its surroundings and fall in love with it.

t. 01887 840760 info@theinnonthetay.co.uk www.theinnonthetay.co.uk The Inn on the Tay, Grandtully Perthshire, PH9 0PL

A warm and friendly welcome sets the tone for a memorable overnight stay in one of our six family sized rooms.

“Great family pub” We use only fresh local produce to prepare our meals

Food served daily 12 noon-3pm and 5-9pm licensed from 11am

Summer MENU

From the warm welcome that greets you as you come through our doors, the spectacular natural backdrop of our restaurant courtesy of the Grandtully rapids, to the contemporary Scottish menus and extensive drinks list, a visit to one of the Sunday Times “best pubs for the weekend” is a must for the whole family.

So, our decking and play area awaits… come and join us this summer for the perfect family getaway on the banks of the river Tay, quite simply Scotland at its best.

GRANDTULLY STRATHTAY

ABERFELDY

BAR | RESTAURANT | ROOMS

LOGIERAIT

Bespoke Highland Car Tours Pitlochry.

Need a Personal Driver? “Why not let me take the strain whilst you relax and enjoy what Highland Perthshire has to offer.

Fully Insured Driver Guide retired Police Officer.

Scenic tours, Castles, Distilleries, Airports etc.

Ronnie Owens Personal Driver Guide Killiecrankie Pitlochry PH16 5LR Tel: 01796 473934 or 07979 412831 e.mail rowens 55@rocketmail.com

18 New local business

D

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

elight Delicatessen opened in Aberfeldy in June 2015 and is proud to be able to carry

DELIGHT DELICATESSEN OPENS IN ABERFELDY

on the tradition of providing

fine foods and produce – sourced from

They believe in the core values of old and

dishes to be filled with a delicious meal of

local companies and suppliers wherever

in creating shops where you can still enjoy

your choice, so you can serve them like

possible. Delight is truly independent and

your shopping experience. Their aim is to

your own.

lovingly prepares everything from fresh,

‘create a haven for food lovers, a meeting

There is an extensive range of

using the finest ingredients.

place for locals, a destination for visitors

traditional deli foods, as well as other

and a place to be spoilt’

treats, surprises and foods that are

It is a haven of peace on Dunkeld Street, Aberfeldy.

Having taken over the premises from Farmfresh in early May, Delight shut the doors for a month to give the store

“

The store

We are thrilled to have opened in Aberfeldy and hope we have created a shop that the town can be proud of.”

a complete

is a traditional

over 60 Scottish and Continental cheeses,

Deli/Café, a

charcuterie from Scotland and abroad,

food store which

locally sourced free range eggs, meats,

screams quaility,

salad leaves, and dairy products, as well as

freshness and

a huge range of nuts, pulses, dried fruit,

localness. Much

flours, organic bread and much more.

of the food is prepared on site in their own kitchen

overhaul. The store now has a light and airy

by local cook, Mary. Out of Mary’s

café and a shopping area that’s larger than

kitchen comes a wide array of

before, with a totally new look.

ready meals, soups, home baking,

Delight is the creation of Jamie

difficult to find in other outlets. There are

salads, quiches, pies, jams and

Landale, James Barnes and Sharon Brown,

chutneys plus much more, which

who have each been involved in food and

are all available to buy or sample

retail for many years. Jamie lives locally

in the new café. You can also pop

and will run the shop on a day to day basis.

in and drop off your own empty

In the café from you can indulge with a local Glen Lyon coffee and a freshly

New local business

The Heartland Buzz Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place!

foods the finest

and local

produce

“

Delight is truly independent and lovingly prepares everything from fresh.”

pates, sandwiches and platters, as well

made scone, or a toasted bacon sandwich

opened in Aberfeldy and I am looking

with lettuce, black pudding and tomato relish. At lunch time there are freshly

as selections for the wee ones. In the afternoon you can treat yourself to a strawberry tart or one of Mary’s traybakes.

If you can’t eat in, you can have a sandwich or baguette made up fresh for

forward to meeting customers and

you, or just ask for the soup of the day.

becoming a strong part of the local

Jamie says “We are thrilled to have

community. We are very pleased with the warmth of the initial reaction and hope we have created a shop that the town can be proud of”.

prepared pies, quiches, soups, salads,

Delight Deli, 22 Dunkeld Street, Aberfeldy, Perthshire PH15 2AA. t. 01887 822 777

www.delight-deli.co.uk

19

New local business

The Heartland Buzz Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place!

RHINO

a great place for families to come and

Lio Balland’s New Aberfeldy Restaurant

I

enjoy some good food and drink

ntroducing Lio Balland, owner

for three years, after which he decided to

and to relax.

of Rhino, who will be opening

have a well earned break, having worked

The outside

his new restaurant in Aberfeldy

seven days a week for many years.

garden area

GET YOUR

FREE LUNCH 6TH JULY

on 6th July. Lio, who was born

Lio takes up the story from there.

can seat over 30 people and there will

and raised in France, has lived in

“In 2012 a call came from the Moness

be a gazebo for parking for push chairs,

Resort in Aberfeldy with an offer for me to

right next to the entrance to the family

the UK for over 25 years and has 20 years experience as a chef and running a variety

room and cafe. It will also

of food and beverage related businesses.

be a perfect seating area if

Lio is married to Miranda and has a five

customers want shade from

year old daughter, Nina.

the sun, or to get out of the rain. Outside will be dog

In 2000 Lio started his first Rhino Cafe in New Milton, Hampshire and soon

friendly and as Nina says cat

expanded his business by delivering meals

friendly as well!

The rear of the premises

on wheels and starting his very popular outside catering venture known as Rhino

will have a fully fitted kitchen,

Catering. He didn’t stop at that! Next he

where I will do my home

took on the lease of a butcher’s shop for

made cooking for the cafe, the take away and the deli.

storage, which included a walk in fridge and freezer and he started running a deli shop.

take up the role as Catering Manager. With

I plan to start up an outside catering

Following the sale of his two businesses,

the opportunity to move up to a beautiful

business to provide catering for corporate

Lio concentrated on outside catering.

part of Scotland, and the chance of a

events and to bring your favourite cooking

Then in 2007, Lio started a new business

rewarding new job, I discussed this exciting

to your home or event for entertaining

opening with Miranda.

over 100 guests and we have all our own

The answer was of course go for it! I was back in the line of work I love. However, after three years at Moness I wanted a business of my own again, you can take the man out of the business, but you can’t take the business

equipment and china. All food will be

out of the man! So I’m

homemade, including gluten and dairy

opening a new Rhino in

free selections from the menu. The food

Aberfeldy. as a ‘Catering Doctor’. Here he fulfilled an

will be very Scottish,

I’m so excited about my new

with Gaelic flair. We also

important role helping catering businesses

venture for many reasons. Miranda,

welcome dogs, both inside

initially to survive and then improve, to

Nina and myself have made our

in the restaurant area and

become viable and successful businesses.

home in Aberfeldy with its great

outside”.

In 2009 he took on the franchise of a golf

community life and we really enjoy

club in Bournemouth and ran this business

living in Scotland. I also love working

looking forward to meeting

with the local community and local

you at Rhino from Monday

businesses and the opportunity

6th July. Rhino will be open

to call upon local knowledge and

every day for breakfast,

Lio and his team are

products. I have acquired superb premises

lunch, lots of cake and afternoon cream

opposite the Breadalbane Hotel and I’ve

tea.

converted the back room into a family room and children’s play area, which will be

Come and pick up your free fidelity card and get a “free Lunch!”

21

22 Art & creativity

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

Travellingthe

Crieff Road During term time, twice a week, for almost five years Zanna has been taking the 26 mile journey between Aberfeldy and Crieff along the A822.

W

hilst her daughters

In Amulree the change of seasons

of a bothy offer further subject matter, “I use water based mediums to

attend Auchlone Nature

can present a challenge; the snow drift

Kindergarten, she

can be up to ten feet deep, but this just

be quick and accessible. Usually this

justifies the long journey

adds another subject for Zanna to paint.

is watercolour, gouache, pencil and

to nursery by whizzing out into the hills to

Amulree’s remoteness and the views

pastel. Sometimes the urgency to get

paint for as long as she can, sometimes

over Strath Braan across to Creag Mead

it all on paper means that four hours are

from the car. As a commute it is pretty

are open and contrast with the sudden

spent without moving and the rain may

unbeatable, it never ceases to inspire; the

descent into the narrows of the Sma’Glen.

intervene, which means paintings get

gradual ascent past the Birks of Aberfeldy,

General Wade’s Military Road is never far

scuffed and rained on, but it is all part of

viewing Strathtay from above, up to Loch

away and there are numerous places to

the response to the landscape so I try to

na’Creag, taking the Scotston strait past

park up and paint just a few feet away from

just go with it”.

Griffin Wind Farm, seeing blackgame

the car; Zanna’s ‘mobile studio’.

lekking, shepherding, heather burning,

The final stretch of Zanna’s journey is

Zanna has been painting for as long as she can remember. After leaving school

brown hares, blue hares, red grouse

past the Foulford Inn to Gilmerton, where a

Zanna went to Winchester School of Art to

and deer; “so much happens along that

lonely Scots Pine and the Connachan Bog,

attend her Foundation Course in Art, but

journey. I want to paint it all!”.

with even more blackgame, and the ruins

it was there that she became interested in

Art & creativity

The Heartland Buzz Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place!

23

the history of art, along with her love of travel, that led her to Edinburgh University to study History of Art and Spanish.

Upon graduation Zanna took a job in an art gallery, though after three years the urge to paint full time was back upon her and Zanna enrolled at Leith School of Art under Paul Martin, who stressed the importance of tools and technique, making his pupils make their own paint with raw pigments. This had great influence on Zanna and she found freedom with suddenly having a whole range of mediawith which to experiment.

Her ability to push mediums and be bold and ‘attack’ her surface is evident in some of the work, where you get up close and see paper has actually been ripped and drawn back into again. Previously Zanna’s textural approach to painting built up a following for her encaustic work (with beeswax), but this recent period in her life whilst, looking after two small daughters, has lent itself to getting back out into nature for short bursts of creativity, experimenting with drawing and water-based media.

Zanna has also had fun painting the wildlife that is present on the A822 journey “it is not uncommon to see red grouse, black grouse, a heron, oyster catchers, a stoat, blue hares, ravens, pheasants, buzzards, a roe deer, kites and of course sheep in one single 38 minute journey, so I wanted to get that down somehow and have discovered painting onto Buchan of Portobello ceramics made by Joe Hunter in Crieff.”

The ceramics offer a different insight into Zanna’s work and each one is highly collectible, particularly as they carry the 1867 Buchan of Portobello, stamp which adds extra kudos to the piece.

The solo show at The Watermill runs between 13th June and 28th July and is a chance to revel in this great highland road. Many of the pictures are very much recognisable scenes and some are annotations of a changing world. For example, the Amulree Tearoom is captured, but no longer there, and there is a painting of Creag Mead before the pylons. “I hadn’t realised until a friend pointed it out that in nearly every painting there is evidence of human presence - a road sign, some bunting, a

Zanna Wilson (Suzanna Steuart Fothringham) 1996-97 Winchester School of Art 1997-2001 Edinburgh University MA history of Art and Spanish 2004-2005 Painting Course Leith School of Art Regular exhibitor at Society of Scottish

“

So much happens along that journey. I want to paint it all!”

Artists (SSA), Royal Scottish Watercolourists (RSW), Royal Glasgow Institute (RGI), (2007 David Cargill Award), Paisley Art Institute (PAI) (2007 Drawing Award).

Two Solo shows Compass Gallery, Glasgow 2009 and The Watermill 2009.

Regular exhibitor with The Lime Tree Gallery in Suffolk and Bristol, Cyril Gerber

pylon, a telegraph pole, a fence, a bothy. Unwittingly

Fine Art, Glasgow, Morningside Gallery, Edinburgh, Anthony Woodd Gallery, Edinburgh, Strathearn

I seem to be cataloging the human interaction within

Gallery, Crieff, Works on Paper Fair 2014 and 2015 at The Science Museum London.

an awe inspiring pocket of Highland Perthshire”.

24 Food & drink

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

Recipe of the

Month

INTERES IN THE RETED THE MONCIPE OF GET IN TOTH? UCH!

THIS MONTH WE VISIT THE SCOTTISH CRANNOG CENTRE

OUR RECIPE OF THE MONTH IS CLAY-BAKED SALMON STUFFED WITH FORAGED HERBS, FRESH HOME-MADE CURD CHEESE ALONG WITH SPELT WHEAT FLOUR ROLLS.

Food & Drink

The Heartland Buzz Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place!

JULY IS BARBECUE MONTH AT THE SCOTTISH CRANNOG CENTRE AND PREPARATIONS ARE WELL UNDERWAY FOR OUR ‘IRON AGE GOURMET DAY’ ON THURSDAY, JULY 16TH.

I

nspiration for the event comes from discoveries of abundant

years before the Romans came to Britain.

Other unexpected discoveries

food remains found underwater

included seeds from cloudberries and

during excavations of the 2,500

opium poppies. Cloudberries are common

salmon, shrouded in protective clay, bakes in the ashes and herb-infused lamb roasts on a spit.

Thirsty cooks can wash down their

in Scandinavian countries, but are scarce

savoury samples with tastes of nettle beer,

off the village of Fearnan in Loch Tay. It

here and only grow high on the mountains

or non-alcoholic cordials, or something

seems our ancient loch-dwellers were

around us. Opium poppies are not native to

more conventional from the Crannog

peaceful farmers who hunted and fished to

Scotland, which raises intriguing questions

refreshment kiosk.

supplement their diets.

about its origins and use by the ancient

year old ‘Oakbank Crannog’

There will also be demonstrations

Crannog Iron Age Gourmet Day Remarkably well-preserved, the food remains included cultivated wheat, barley

loch-dwellers.

Among the domestic utensils, platters

of cheese-making using a replica of the ancient colander for draining, with creamy spreads to taste.

Visitors can make their own spelt bread rolls to dunk in barleyvege soup, and make

butter to spread on breads baked earlier in the clay ovens. Meanwhile, salad lovers

and wild oats, cattle, sheep, wild boar

and pot fragments that were found, one of

will enjoy the array of wild greens and

and deer; and evidence of more than 160

the most evocative was a broken, squared

blossoms displayed in garden borders and

different plant species, many of which

wooden dish with several holes drilled in

the assortment of edible weeds alongside

would have been used for medicinal as well

the bottom. Sticking to the corners was

our mini-crops of flax, opium poppy and

as culinary purposes. Whilst no fish bones

a grey, slimy material, which was sent off

wheat. To round off the tasting menu, for

have yet been found, we are confident that

for analysis. The result: butter fat! We

those with a sweet tooth the Crannog’s

our ancestors would have exploited the

had found an Iron Age colander used for

signature fruit bread pudding will be on

river and loch for salmon, trout, arctic char

draining cheese and/or butter.

hand.

and eels.

Accordingly, with such detailed

Further details of all Crannog events

evidence to go on, our Crannog cooks

may be found at www.crannog.co.uk and

Prior to our discovery of spelt wheat

have been busy creating an exciting menu

on our Facebook pages. For enquiries,

(triticum spelta) in Loch Tay, it was

for the Gourmet Day, to provide a wide

please telephone 01887 830583 or email

generally assumed that the Romans had

range of food and drink to experience.

us at info@crannog.co.uk

imported it. Here we have discovered the

Visitors will be able to toast their own wild

grain on two Iron Age crannogs, some 500

boar bangers around an open fire, whilst

Several of the finds were unexpected.

THE EVENT RUNS FROM 10:30AM TO 4:30PM AND BOOKING IS NECESSARY FOR PARTIES OF 10 OR MORE.

25

26 Food & drink

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

CRANNOG CURD CHEESE

IRON AGE CAMPFIRE CLAY-BAKED SALMON

Ingredients

Ingredients

2 litres whole milk (cow’s or goat’s)

Pinch of salt

2 tsp rennet (a herb rennet can also be made from the

Instructions

from heat and stir in rennet (or juice from herbs).

Several handfuls of fresh herbs such as wild garlic, thyme, jack-by-the hedge

Potter’s clay, enough to make 4 sheets to wrap around

salmon

Heat milk gently to 25-28°C. (In the past this was done near an open fire, or by adding small hot stones from the fire). Remove

the body, leaving head and tail Butter

juice from cooked nettle tops, common sorrel, or Lady’s

bedstraw)

1 whole salmon, gutted (1.5 to 2kg) and cut in half across

You will also need an open fire, 2 wire racks, several large flat stones, heat-proof gloves & metal or wooden spatulas.

Keep in a warm place until milk separates (this can take 1-2

Instructions

hours or up to 12 hours)

Shape the clay into 4 sausage shapes long enough to span

Line colander with a muslin cloth and place a bowl underneath

each half salmon. Flatten or roll out like pastry to a thickness

to collect whey (liquid).

Pour in the mixture. Tie up the curds in the muslin cloth and

of about ½ inch (12mm). Repeat so that there are 2 sheets for each half salmon.

leave to drip for a couple of hours.

Place a thick layer of herbs on each clay sheet, followed by

Keep the curds wrapped up in muslin and place in the ‘Crannog

protects it from burning and imparts a lovely flavour. Lay one

butter-dish’ (see photo) or colander of your choice. Put a wood block on the top and additional weights such as stones to squeeze out more of the whey. Leave for 2 hours (or 24 hours if you want a harder, longer lasting cheese).

several slices of butter. This creates a ‘bed’ for the salmon, half salmon on top of each herb bed. Stuff the inside of the fish with more herbs. Layer butter and more herbs on top of the fish to create another bed. Then wrap the clay sheet over the fish to completely encase it, as you might with pastry. Pinch

Turn the curd cheese out of the cloth and store in a cool place.

any overlap and seal the edges. You now have 2 clay parcels.

It will stay fresh and ‘sweet’ for 2-3 days. Add chopped herbs

Place each parcel on a wire rack supported by flat stones at the

to taste. The cheese can also be seasoned with a little salt and pepper, although we did not have the latter in the Iron Age.

edge of an open fire. Leave a space under the middle of each rack for the heat to circulate. The clay will turn black and may crack and steam may emerge. Turn each rack regularly to avoid overcooking in any one part and flip over completely after about 30 minutes. Cooking time varies with the size of fish, between 60 and 90 minutes. Carefully remove the parcels from the fire and place on a rugged surface such as an old wooden

DELICIOUS SPREAD ON OATCAKES OR FRESH SPELT WHEAT BREAD!

table. Break off the clay to expose the fish. Remove all traces so there is a clean surface to work from. Peel away the herbs and skin. Cut the fish into chunks or slices to serve.

This fish is also lovely stuffed and served with sliced fresh lemons, but we did not have those in early Iron Age Scotland.

It is a great recipe for busy cooks, as they can get on with other jobs while the salmon is roasting.

Wine Month of the

USE THE CODE

“BUZZ” FOR A 10% DISCOUNT

Catena Alamos Malbec.

Mendoza, Argentina.

AVAILABLE ONLINE FOR £8.99

N

o-one has done more to put Mendoza on the map, or to raise the profile of

Malbec, than Nicolas Catena. There were many years of scepticism when he started planting the Bordeaux reject at ever higher altitudes in the Andes but eventually the results of his experiments spoke for themselves, he has now taken more of a backseat in the day to day management of his Families Winery Catena leaving his daughter Laura at the helm. This is a winery that never stands still and never compromises on quality. The Alamos wines are the starting point of Catena’s range and they always over deliver.

This delicious red wine has aromas and flavours of ripe, dark berries, including raspberry & currants; these mingle with hints of sweet spice and a touch of leather. The mouthfeel is full and rich with a silky sprinkling of tannin and more of those delicious ripe berries. A suggestion of cherry crush and a hint of chocolate also appear, giving way to a long persistent finish.

This is a perfect match for Rustic Meat dishes, Spicy Pizza or BBQ Lamb.

THE HOUSE OF MENZIES The House of Menzies was established in 1999 and has built a strong reputation for stocking and selling an eclectic range of New World Wines not readily available on the High Street.

Wines start at £5.99 and are available online, by phone or email. Delivery in the Heartland Buzz area is free and complimentary glasses are available for parties and functions. For further information, please contact us on

e: info@houseofmenzies.com t: 01887 829 666 www.houseofmenzies.com

LAUNCH NIGHT AT ERRICHEL On Sunday 24th May, Alastair and Iris Budge-Reid hosted the Launch Night for Errichel House & Cottages & Thyme at Errichel Restaurant, where they introduced Patrons, Paul & Rebecca Newman to 80 guests.

Local business

The Heartland Buzz Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place!

T

he guests were treated to a sample of Errichel’s hospitality and restaurant food, which included canapes produced

in house and Head Chef, Paul Newman’s signature dish of Beetroot Cured Scottish Salmon with Essence of Citrus & Dewar’s Aberfeldy Whisky.

Fiona Sloan, Front of House Manager, served her own speciality cocktails, including ‘The Triple P’, a refreshing drink of Pear Liqueur, Pomegranate and Proscecco, ‘Dewar’s Smash’ with mint and lemon and of course Dewar’s Whisky, alongside a ‘Hendricks Cucumber Gin’, a particular favourite of the guests.

These cocktails and more feature on the restaurant’s extensive drinks menu. With Glenfiddich curating a tasting, there was also live music courtesy of the up and coming, very talented Sean C Kennedy.

The evening was introduced by Philip Smith, Regional Director, Visit Scotland.

The theme for the night was Errichel’s five new core elements; ‘Stay-DineCelebrate-Create-Shop’.

Rebecca Newman, General Manager Errichel House & Cottages explains, “‘Stay’- Errichel House and Cottages is a family run hill farm on the beautiful slopes above Aberfeldy, in the heart of stunning Highland Perthshire. The farm has three characterful 4 and 5 star selfcatering holiday cottages, plus four newly refurbished high quality guest rooms for Bed and Breakfast, available all year round.

We offer a bespoke service to all our guests and pride ourselves on attention to detail and ensuring all guests have a relaxing break.

‘Dine’ which represents Thyme at Errichel Restaurant, offering a truly delicious dining experience with a

lightness of touch to let our guests enjoy

or a friends and family get together. We

fantastic Scottish produce served at its

can cater for small or large Weddings

best. Paul prides himself on sourcing

and offer a unique setting for what is

quality local ingredients, which are then

undoubtedly one of the most important

prepared in our own kitchen by Paul and

days of your life. Celebration Cakes are

his team to showcase the best in Scottish

a specialty and are designed individually

produce, with flavours and influences from

to each customers wishes. We also offer corporate facilities ideal for

The Errichel team are passionate about their products and high standards of customer service and they look forward to sharing their passion with you.

business meetings and small residential conferences, alongside outside catering for your special event in your own chosen location.

The ‘Create’ element is our very own cookery school, which will be

around the world. The team has recently

running a number of events throughout

gained a ‘Taste Our Best’ award, for locally

the year, where people can experience a

sourced products cooked & presented to

rare opportunity to learn from Paul, who

the very highest standards.”

has worked and trained teams in 5 star

Chef, Patron Paul Newman, who alongside wife Rebecca, cares for their

kitchens around the world.

And finally ‘Shop’. Thyme to Eat is our

livestock on Errichel’s Hill Farm says “All

retail section and we produce the finest

our pork and beef is reared right here

foods in-house, including Chutneys, Jams,

at Errichel using the highest welfare

Home-baking, Ready Meals, Beetroot

standards to produce healthy, happy

Marinated Salmon, Thyme Roast &

animals. We breed our own Rare Breed

Spices Nuts, Celebration Cakes, Biltong &

Shetland Cattle and Rare Breed Large

Droewors”.

Black Pigs, both ideal for life on our hill farm.”

Coming back to the third element,

As you can see, Errichel has lots to offer, with a unique setting and bespoke experience. Guests, whether Staying,

‘Celebrate’, Fiona Sloan, Front of House

Dining, Celebrating, Creating or Shopping,

Manager explains, “We offer a bespoke

will certainly enjoy a fantastic time in

wedding service and we are an ideal venue

superb surroundings.“

for smaller intimate gatherings and private functions, whether it’s a special birthday,

29

30 Wildlife & nature

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

SKY DANCE AT DAWN I am bent low, packing away my sleeping bag. It is mid April and my face and lower

seconds, heading upwards again.

This is why I had spent the night in the

night, she flushed a group of grouse and a flock of meadow pipits, but she didn’t

arms are growing dark with the recent days

cold glen - the spectacular Hen Harrier!

seem to be hunting. The female, although

spent working outside in strong sunshine.

This vulnerable bird of prey has a home on

larger than the male, is much plainer,

But the nights could still be cruelly cold

the moorland here on Atholl. These birds

mainly brown, but easily recognised by a

to those creatures that spend them

eat a range of prey from invertebrates to

white rump where the tail meets the body.

outdoors.

voles and small birds, but perhaps most

In this instance, that included me. As

After witnessing the male’s sky dance

famously they are partial to red grouse.

I was lucky enough to see the two birds

I continued looking down, frustrated by

The white shape propelling itself across

together. My visit confirmed that this part

the reluctance of my frozen fingers to

the glen was the male, the showy bird

of the hill has a Hen Harrier territory and

perform what should be a mundane task,

of the pair. He is really distinctive, like

this will allow the nest to be monitored to

something changed. I hadn’t heard or

nothing else I would see here and certainly

record its breeding success.

seen anything, but something had made

unlike the female. His underparts are

me more alert.

white, whilst on top he is a blue grey colour

“How many people, I often wonder, can indulge their private passion in their everyday job? I don’t have to be told how lucky I am” Gods of the Morning - John Lister Kaye

As I walked off the hill, I recalled reading that once you had seen a Hen

with broad black wingtips. The

Harrier you would never forget it. I’m not

incredible display I witnessed

convinced. They appeared ghostly as I

is known as the ‘sky dance’,

watched them at dusk and in the strange

which is the courtship ritual.

pre-light of dawn. My memories already

This allows the male to show

seemed otherworldly, as if I imagined

his agility and stamina and

them, or dreamed them in the fitful sleep

convince the female that he

under canvas. I need to see them again

will be a solid provider for their

soon, just to confirm to myself that they

brood.

are real!

I had seen his potential partner late the previous

This period of bird monitoring came fast on the heels of a busy Easter period

I looked up to see a flash of white rocket

evening, as darkness drew in. Her flying

for the ranger team, welcoming lots of

silently skywards at a seemingly impossible

style was very different. She moved so

visitors to the area and providing a fun

speed. It was suddenly twisting, then

slowly, only feet above the heather, that I

packed range of events. John Lister Kaye

rolling over before plummeting towards

barely had to move my scope to keep her

is not alone in being lucky in how he makes

the earth. It disappeared below the sides

in view and she appeared to be in danger of

his living.

of the glen to surely crash into the burn

stalling and dropping to the ground. This

below. Unbelievably, it reappeared within

enables her to hunt by stealth and, on this

by Mark Johnston Ranger on Atholl Estates

The Heartland Buzz Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place!

Wildlife & nature

31

VISIT THE WORK OF JOHN MCGARRY FROM LOCHVIEW PHOTOGRAPHY ON FACEBOOK. ALL IMAGES

BY LOCHVIEW PHOTOGRAPHY *

* Apart from the Hen Harrier

34 Mel’s hilltop diary

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

MEL’S HILLTOP DIARY

by Melanie Bonn Welcome to my occasional diary. I’m a mother of two and a reporter with the

My husband and I have a B&B in Glenlyon with just enough land round it to indulge in a bit of the Good Life. As you can imagine, living up a remote Highland glen has its moments – we get frozen water, power cuts and sometimes unexpected guests. Oh and Granny lives next door.

T

his has been the busiest possible month for us Glenlyon

Perthshire Advertiser.

Guinea fowl are surprisingly easy to keep. As birds go they really are the

duties whilst I was at work!

It’s 15 years since I last

crofter’s friend, searching the grass for

had a puppy and, like my

bugs and ticks and kicking up a fuss if any

children’s baby days,

predators come visiting.

memory blurs out

We waited a week before letting them

the detail, leaving

out of a wire enclosure so they could get

only the nice bits.

used to the other poultry and suss out

We named him

where they lived.

Torrin, (‘from the

When we did give the comic polka dot

craggy hills’ in Gaelic),

smallholders. As if running a

trio their freedom, from the very first night

but already he’s better known as Torrin the

B&B and keeping on top of the

they chose to perch with the chickens in

Timewaster.

children’s homework were not enough,

the hen house – a relief as I’d have been

we’ve turned our home into a right old

gutted if our investment had just flown

bundle of trouble keeping everyone on

Noah’s Ark.

away into the forestry.

their toes; Up at 6am on the wet grass,

In May we took delivery of three piglets, a trio of guinea fowl and a Labrador puppy.

We now have a curious nine-week old

We cautiously tried Guinea fowl eggs

bleary-eyed in a dressing gown, patching

for Sunday breakfast and noticed they

holes in the fence and constantly swooping

had a double thickness shell, but

in to stop him getting his teeth into

The pigs were easy, they

otherwise they tasted just like a

electrical cables or swallowing stones.

travelled from Crieff in

regular hen’s egg.

Don’t get me wrong, he’s very cute when

a crate and soon made

Soon we had collected eight of

he’s asleep.

them selves comfortable in their paddock.

We don’t have a pig arc, instead the iron top of an old Land Rover does them as a shelter.

The children had fun getting it ready,

these peculiar pointy eggs and, seizing the moment, put the clutch under a broody hen. Hopefully they’ll hatch three weeks from now, Ugly Duckling style.

Obviously the puppy

Not counting our own livestock journeys, half of Scotland’s animals seem to be on the move, or going on holiday.

We have a woman on a cross-Britain sponsored ride wanting to stay at

spreading a deep bed of straw on a wooden

was the major acquisition

the B&B with her horse;

pallet inside.

for the family. Since our

while some other

faithful dog Bran died last

guests asked if it was

The Guinea fowl came from a rare breed auction in Inverurie. We had an early

summer I’ve spent months

all right to bring their

start to get there and it was very noisy in

researching breeders and

cat.

the packed sales hall.

kept my eye out for a black

Good thing we didn’t get carried away

lab from a quality working line.

in the bidding frenzy, as there were Jacob’s

The trail took me to the Borders

sheep and even Llamas going under the

near Jedburgh and I came home

hammer.

overjoyed with the wee pup.

On the long trip home to Glenlyon the

He was met by two very excited

I said accommodating a visiting feline would be fine and assumed it would stay indoors but they cheerfully told me that it liked to accompany them on walks. Just hope they

birds, safely stowed in a cardboard box,

daughters and a more restrained husband

don’t loose it out hiking. I’m up to my eyes

had to sit tight while we stopped for a fish

- probably because Jason knew he’d be

with this Dr Dolittle lark.

supper in Stonehaven.

lumped with several weeks of full on nanny

Food & Drink

The Heartland Buzz Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place!

THYME TO TASTE BROUGHT TO YOU BY THYME AT ERRICHEL - TASTE. EAT. CELEBRATE.

Thyme for Raspberries

Raspberry Crush If you love Raspberries why not try the Non-alcoholic Raspberry Crush recipe.

•

70ml cranberry juice

•

35ml orange juice

•

Handful of fresh raspberries

•

1 tbsp lemon juice

•

Orange Slice for garnish

French Martini Is there anything more delicious than a well made French Martini? If there is I haven’t found it yet!

Invented in the 1980’s in New York, at one of Keith McNally’s bars, this relatively modern cocktail is a favourite training tool for

To make, in a blender or a food processor, combine the Cranberry juice and the Orange juice and blend until well mixed. Add the Raspberries and the Lemon juice and process until smooth.

Pour the mixture into tall glasses with ice and dress with the slices of Orange.

Bartenders.

•

50ml Grey Goose Vodka

•

25ml Chambord Liqueur

•

40ml Fresh Pineapple Juice

•

2/3 fresh Raspberries to decorate

To make, take a chilled cocktail shaker and half fill with ice, add the Vodka, Chambord & Pineapple Juice. Shake Errichel House & Cottages, Thyme at Errichel Restaurant,

well. Strain into a chilled Martini Glass & decorate with

Errichel, Crieff Road, Aberfeldy, PH15 2EL

fresh raspberries.

t: 01887 820 850 m: 07483 352 123 www.errichel.co.uk

35

36 Lifestyle

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

Sustainable

Spaces to Live, Work & Play

Lifestyle

The Heartland Buzz Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place!

37

@JMLGardenRooms /jmlgardenrooms www.jmlgardenrooms.co.uk

“

Home office, art studio, guest bedroom, gym, games room, therapy room, cinema, sales office, music the list is endless.”

Please contact our offices on 01764 663668 to organise a visit to our showroom near Auchterarder.

JML GARDEN ROOMS IN AUCHTERARDER

J

ohn Langley is Perthshire

JML Garden Rooms at the end of 2013,

sports viewing. Her daughter then high

born and bred and gained

following numerous enquiries from clients

jacked the space, enjoying it’s peace and

his early experiences in

keen to have a high quality, fully insulated

quiet to study for her A-Levels. So the

the building industry from

space in their garden, which can be used

garden room really can be a space for the

weekends and holidays

all year round. ‘The big appeal for our

whole family to enjoy,” said John.

spent working for his

clients is to be able to increase their

A big growth area within the business

father’s Civils business in Dunkeld. His

living space without the disruption and

has been the demand for granny annexes.

love of eco house building grew and after

cost of an extension or moving home.

It’s the ideal solution for an older relative

a brief stint working in Aberdeen and

Our garden rooms don’t require planning

who wants to keep their independence and

London, he returned to Perthshire to set

permission and depending on the size

privacy, but also likes the security of being

up his own Building and Civil Engineering

and specification we can be off site again

close to the family. “We’ve just finished a

company, JML Contracts in 2006.

within three weeks and handing over their

granny annexe for a client, complete with a

keys,” commented John.

separate bedroom, bathroom and kitchen

JML Contracts is a family run business, based in Auchterarder, where John now

Another appeal is their flexible uses:

area within the main living space. Both

lives with his wife Katie and three boys.

home office, art studio, guest bedroom,

she and her mother are delighted with the

The business specialises in building new

gym, games room, therapy room, cinema,

result and she plans to get a great return

houses and extensions in SIPs (Structural

sales office, music – the list is endless. “We

on her investment by renting it out for

Insulated Panels), which have exceptional

built a garden room for a client locally in

holiday lets when it is no longer required

thermal performance and u-values

Auchterarder, who was keen for a separate

for her mother,” said John.

(drastically reducing energy bills), minimal

space she could use as an art studio,

erection time as they are manufactured

making the most of the natural light and

businesses, building top quality houses

off site and allow for a habitable roof

beautiful surrounding views. It didn’t take

and garden rooms in SIPs for clients in

space (as they don’t require roof trusses).

long for her husband to have a flat screen

Scotland and try and preserve as much

The product has been hugely popular

and surround sound installed so he could

family time as possible in the process!

and, as a consequence, they launched

also enjoy the space for his concerts and

John’s plan is to continue to grow both

Highland Perthshire Marathon & Half Marathon

Run

or

Bike

SATURDAY 5TH SEPTEMBER 2015 Charities

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CYCLING

Sport & events

The Heartland Buzz Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place!

LOCH TUMMEL SAILING CLUB The first thing to establish is that we are not stuffy “yachties” We welcome and

back, commencing at two o’clock.

responsibility.

Various dinghy classes are sailed,

Our Club is reliant on member

encourage anyone interested in sailing to

ranging from Optimist for juniors and other

contributions, both by paying annual

pay us a visit and see for themselves the

single handers such as Laser and Topper

subscriptions, which are set at the AGM,

excellent facilities we enjoy.

for more experienced sailors. A variety

and performing two duties per season

Our Club is family oriented and that

of performance two person dinghies are

eg. Rescue or Race Officer Duty and by

approach has been one of our strengths

well represented, some with spinnakers

attending work parties, before the season

over many years. Our waters are safe,

and others without. Keel boats are mainly

commences and at its end. Our season

even spectators and children enjoy our

Yeoman Dayboats and higher performance

runs between April and October.

amenities. The sand pit is a magnet for

Flying Fifteens. The Club owns a few

young children and for older ones, when

dinghies, which are made available to

and highly competent in organising major

they are not sailing, there are adventures to

members by arrangement.

events and championships at the request

be had in the wood!

Our Club premises have been extended

New members often begin by crewing in a two “man” boat, gathering experience

Our Club is regarded as experienced

of class associations. Furthermore, the Club has two principal annual events,

and upgraded to stand comparison with

before deciding which

namely Tummel Week in the last

any club in Scotland. These comprise, club

way to go. Some

week in July and our open Regatta in

room, kitchen, changing rooms, toilets,

graduate to their own

September. Tummel Week usually has

showers, training room, stores and an

boats, while others may

informal tea/coffee point.

be content to continue

We offer beginners a sailing experience

crewing. Boats come in

TUMMEL WEEK

27th - 31st JULY

around sixty boats and many more people, with entries from far and wide. In 2014 our Regatta attracted 103 entries from all over Scotland.

in either a dinghy or small keel boat and

a range of type, size and

for anyone wishing to progress, advice and

cost but “starter boats”

coaching is available from experienced

need not be expensive,

members and through in club training

especially when compared with other

equipped, including personal buoyancy.

events, albeit that we are not a specific

sport equipment! Remember this can be

Three RIB rescue boats, crewed by

training establishment capable of awarding

something for all the family.

members, are deployed as circumstances

RYA Certificates. Training and coaching is also provided by RYA recognised coaches who lead formal training events arranged by the Club. Over the years several of our members have obtained

“

Most members gravitate towards

Loch Tummel Sailing Club, your local club, believes there may be folks out there with a latent interest in sailing and we would very much like to make contact.”

racing, which is mainly around “the cans”,

Safety is a priority and anyone on our water must be appropriately

require and in addition, we have a work boat for laying moorings and racing marks.

The Club is administered by its Flag

although “island races”

Officers and a Committee elected by the

covering almost the

members at the AGM.

length of the loch are

Our sport can be as exciting and

popular. There is no

physically demanding you wish, but it also

obligation to race.

caters for all ages and abilities.

Some members prefer

Should you wish to discuss this

pottering and they

further please contact Ian McLaren by

may do so whenever

phone on 01738 634511 or at mclaren@

distinction at the highest levels of sailing,

they wish. Keys to the site and buildings are

upperwoodlands.co.uk. Alternatively

so we must be getting something right!

available to members. Racing takes place

contact our secretary Linda.

Safety boat training is also arranged

on Sundays, with the first race beginning

by the Club because safety is a prime

noon and two more races sailed back to

39

40 What’s buzzin’

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

SEASON SLALOM SUCCESS BRINGS MANY SMILES

Aberfeldy and District Probus Club

Breadalbane Canoe Club has had a great start to the 2015 competitive

Did you come along to any of our meetings since

season across the age range of paddlers involved in canoe slalom at the

our last article in the Quair and Heartland Buzz?

Club. Following a winter of intensive (and often cold!) training, those taking

No, I thought we hadn’t seen you – Yes you!

part in the Canoe Club’s talent pathway have been well rewarded for their

Well, what did you miss in the meantime? Some

hard work, with success at competitions across the UK.

more entertaining and inspiring speakers, this

Great Britain Squad At the junior section series on the 2012

time ranging from Aberfeldy and the Tay to

Olympic course, Jacob Holmes and Eddie McDiarmid retained their places

Tanzania. Also a hugely over-subscribed, but

on the GB Junior Squad, meaning that they will once again represent the

vastly entertaining tour of Taymouth Castle,

country in the European Championships, this time in Krakow, Poland during

instead of one of our coffee mornings. Well, we

August. In the Wild Water Racing discipline, Louise Revell has been selected

still had coffee actually, in Kenmore Hotel – very

by GB to race in the Senior World Championships in Austria in June, as well

nice. There you go, we told you it was worth

as the U23 World Championships in the USA! So a summer of travel and new

coming along.

Now, however, we are having our summer

experiences beckons for these athletes.

Promotions At the other end of the pathway, many of the youngest

break over July and August and will re-convene

group have now achieved promotion this season out of Division 4, including

on Wednesday 2nd September at 12.30 in the

Lauren Johnston, Maya Baldwin, Johnny Anderson, Dougall Ashcroft, Lewis

Moness Country Club. Just in case your memory

Davies and Judah Hannigan. Promoted to Division 2 from 3 already this year

is as short as some of ours though, we will give

are Finn Macdonald and Georgia Holmes, with their colleagues in Division 3

you a wee reminder in a future issue.

queuing up to follow them. At the recent Division 2&3 event on Scotland’s only artificial white water course at Pinkston in Glasgow, Breagh Macpherson

Enquiries as before to Stan Pirie on 01887 820487 or David Parmley on 01887 829503.

and Angus Hulbert both recorded their first wins of the season to move them up the rankings to Division 1.

Underpinned by Hard Work This early season success is entirely due to the hard work that each individual has invested during the winter period and their commitment to regular training. Sessions are now all based at Grandtully, having moved from the winter training site in Aberfeldy, where paddlers are getting reacquainted with the white water environment as they develop better technique, which will be the foundation of any future

.

GO ON.. R U O Y S GIVE U !

IP GOSS

success. If you see any of the Club on the water, drop by to say hi and encourage the young athletes in their endeavours.

Malcolm Appleby Pendant sells for £3,750 An engraved 18ct gold ruby and opal bird pendant made by Malcolm Appleby has sold in Edinburgh for £3,750. The fine example of the Perthshire based engravers’ extraordinary talents has fetched well over it’s estimate of £1,500-2,000 at Bonhams auction house.

The handmade stylised bird is intricately engraved by Appleby and holds a circular cabochon-cut opal in its beak, with an oval cabochon-cut ruby to the body.

Speaking of the pendant, Bonhams Jewellery specialist, Clare Blatherwick said: “It is really nice to see an early example of Malcolm Appleby’s work. There was great competition for it on the day and it goes to show how collectable he is in the market place” As one of the word’s leading engravers, Appleby was awarded an MBE for his services to hand engraving and heritage crafts in 2014, and in 2011 Louis Osman and Appleby’s ‘Prince of Wales Cup’ sold at Bonhams’ for £75,000, setting a new record for any post-war silver or gold item.

What’s buzzin’

The Heartland Buzz Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place!

Belles & Buns - The only women only road cycling event based in Highland Perthshire.

‘SPORT A SMILE’ ACTIVITY DAY The ‘Sport A Smile’ activity day will take place in the Memorial Park,

out on a relaxed, fun and social road event. Groups

Sport can often be male dominated, leaving women less confident to push themselves or try something new and many women state they don’t cycle as often as they’d like, as they don’t have any friends that also cycle. A women only event allows women the freedom to go at their own pace, with less pressure and the opportunity to meet other like minded female cyclists.

If you would like to take part in Belles & Buns visit -www.highlandperthshirecycling.co.uk/ events/bellesandbuns. For more information and on the day entries get in touch with Kat - kat@ highlandperthshirecycling.co.uk

The Teapot Trophy was

the skills of those attending; these

won by Graham Davidson

include fly casting, archery, Segway

and Joe Osborne.

We welcomed Blairgowrie

face painting, Beat the Goalie,

and Strathmore to our green

Bouncy Castle, tug-of-war and

for the annual friendlies and

hay rides, with Silly McBee adding

our members travelled to

a popular element of chaos to

Rattray for the first time,

the proceedings This event took

beginning a new connection

place for the first time in 2014 and

with the Rattray Club, which

attracted an excellent crowd and a

we hope to continue as an

great deal of interest. Entry is FREE

annual fixture. On 13th June

and refreshments will be available.

we visited Perth Bowling Club for another annual friendly.

On 12th June the Friday Pairs and Tummel

a 40 mile circuit, including the steep ascent and

post ride chill out.

The Arnold Brown Trophy Walker and Elma Spence.

Perthshire farmland or challenge themselves on

and cake for everyone at the finish, a well earned

are as follows -

Sunday August 2nd. A wide range

will either take to a leisurely 15 mile loop of rolling

descent of the Ben Lawers pass. There will be tea

contested and the winners

was won by Dave Page, John

rides, bowls, slow bike riding, golf,

Kenmore will see groups of female cyclists head

Two Club trophies have been

Blair Atholl from 1.00 to 5.00pm on of activities will be featured to test

On Sunday 5th July at 9am the surrounds of

Pitlochry Bowling Club

BLAIR ATHOLL SUMMER MARKET The Annual Summer Market will take place in the Blair Atholl village hall from noon to 3.00pm on Sunday August 9th. Twenty stalls will offer a varied selection of goods and crafts. Refreshments will be available and entry is FREE! The fact that stallholders book space well ahead of time reflects the importance of BAATA’s Summer and Christmas markets.

Trophy games were keenly contested at Pitlochry and Blair Atholl greens. The Tummel Trophy was won by the Tummel Team and team members Dave Page and Joan Findlay also won the Ian Irvine Shield for the Pairs.

Meanwhile Club ties and league matches keep us on the green, enjoying the good weather when it comes and we look forward to our Charity Day in aid of CHAS on Saturday 25th July. Donations to the Raffle are much appreciated and tickets will be on sale from Club members, and in the

SHED TO LET 4 miles from Aberfeldy, 1500sq.f, Secure, Insulated, Good access.

Tel: 07718 912654

Co-op, on Friday 24th July.

Spectators welcome to join us on the 25th and as usual any non-bowlers who would like a free trial at the sport are welcome to contact us to arrange a suitable time.

41

42 What’s buzzin’

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

ABERFELDY BOWLING CLUB OPEN TRIPLES RESULTS

Grandtully Gala – Sunday 7th June 2015

The 2015 Open Triples competition at Aberfeldy Bowling Club was won

This year’s Gala enjoyed bright but breezy weather

by local team, Jimmy Hermiston, Peter Jack and Alex McGravie. In a

and what a fantastic afternoon we had, with another

closely fought final, played under sunny skies, they beat a Bankfoot

excellent turnout. People from the local area were

team of Alan Montgomery, Andrew Carcary and Ian Kean to win the

joined by holiday makers, including visitors from places

Rose and Campbell Trophy. Aberfeldy skip, Jimmy Hermiston said, “We

like Germany, and fun was had by all. Many thanks goes

are delighted to have won this competition and would like to thank the

to Clive Bridges MC and the Heartland Radio team,

Club and the sponsors for all their arrangements. It has been a very

the Grandtully and Strathtay Village Hall Committee

enjoyable competition.”

and volunteers, the Vale of Atholl Pipe Band and the Highland dancers. Of course the Gala couldn’t happen

Presenting the trophy and prizes to the winners, Aberfeldy President

without the support from local businesses and the many

Anne Woolley commented, “We witnessed two excellent days of

stallholders, so a big thank you to them too.

bowling and I would like to thank all the bowlers who took part for

We also had a great response to the Craft

making it such a great competition. Our thanks also go to Dewar’s

Competition, with many top quality and varied

Aberfeldy Distillery Visitor Experience, Barhaul and the Black Watch Inn

entries, so thank you to all who entered. Our worthy

for their generous sponsorship of this competition.”

winner, chosen by a public vote, was Gill Tulloch with a very creative take on a Highland Chocolatier box of chocolates. Well done Gill, you can also see the winning photo on our Facebook page.

Thank you all once again for supporting Grandtully & Strathtay Village Hall, we raised £1,600 for the hall fund.

Our next event will be the Fireworks night on Saturday 7th November 2015.

If you have any comments or queries, please contact us by email at: grandtullyvillagehall@gmail.com or like us

Winners: The photograph shows George Dark (Dewar’s) with Aberfeldy BC President Anne Woolley (both centre) flanked by the competition prize winners.

on www.facebook.co.uk/grandtullyvillagehall and stay in touch.

The Kings of Cool with Matt Ford Rotary Club of Pitlochry are proud to present the `Kings of Cool` with Matt Ford and eight very talented musicians in concert at the Festival Theatre on Sunday 26th July at 8.00pm. Matt currently performs with the Syd Lawrence Orchestra and is one of the lead singers with the internationally acclaimed John Wilson Orchestra, appearing with them in the Royal Albert Hall and recently to a full house in the Glasgow Concert Hall, due to return again to Glasgow during November 2015.

The programme for the evening will consist of numbers from popular shows, musical films and many WEST END favourites. Just as their name Kings of Cool suggests.

Proceeds from the evening will go to help the victims of the Earthquakes in Nepal, the sufferers of Ebola in Sierra Leone and the many Charities supported by the Rotary Club of Pitlochry This show is recommended to those of you who enjoyed the Pasadena Roof Orchestra in March, this also promises to be another wonderful night to remember.

Tickets available from the Festival Theatre Box Office 01796 484626, or reserve your choice seats at Just the Ticket in Atholl Road Pitlochry.

What’s buzzin’

The Heartland Buzz Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place!

ANDERSON DENTISTRY KEEPING SMILES SAFE We were delighted when we heard that the Aberfeldy Rugby Football Club had formed a rugby sevens team and contacted coach Steve Brown to offer sponsorship. It quickly became clear that the best way we could sponsor the team would be by providing a most vital piece of protective kit - custom fitted mouth guards for every player.

The Scottish Rugby Union strongly recommends that all players wear custom fitted mouth guards during training sessions as well as matches. As these fit perfectly to the wearer’s teeth they provide the optimum protection that is required for

Highland Safaris vehicle is Star of the Big Screen as Jurassic World comes to Birk’s Cinema in July!

The latest Hollywood blockbuster, Jurassic World, is set to take the cinema world by storm. The vehicle that transports visitors round the Dinosaur Park in the film is none other than the Pinzgauer – a rugged 6 wheel drive all terrain vehicle, also used by top visitor attraction Highland Safaris in Aberfeldy, where it is used for Groups looking for a unique experience for a landmark birthday, hen or stag do, reunion or family get together. Dinosaurs not included though!

the fast paced game of rugby sevens.

As a result, all fifteen players put themselves into the hands of the girls at Anderson Dentistry last Monday evening to have individual moulds taken of their teeth. Ironically, owing to a rugby injury of his own, Ross was unable to assist with the evening’s work.

Although debilitating, Ross’ injury was as a result of playing with our nine year old son......enough said.

With the choice of every conceivable colour to customise their mouth guards, the boys all opted for jet black in a bid to further intimidate oncoming opponents. These close fitting mouth guards not only protect the teeth and the surrounding soft tissues from trauma, but can also help prevent a broken jaw. They are also crucial in the prevention of concussion and laceration of fellow players.

As communication is vital in any team sport, an additional benefit of custom fitted mouth guards, as opposed to boil and bite shop bought mouth guards, is that speech is easier as they stay in place and are not easily dislodged.

If you would also like to help the team, come along to their Fundraising Barbeque at the Ailean Chraggan on Friday June 26th at 7pm. Tickets are £10 and all will receive a warm welcome.

All at Anderson Dentistry wish the Aberfeldy Rugby Football Club continued success on the field.

Scotland was recently dubbed ‘the real Jurassic Park’ after a new marine reptile from this age was identified from fossils on Skye. In this spectacular vehicle, with 11 individual belted seats and a full glass roof, guests experience the real ‘Jurassic Scotland’ on a journey like no other through breathtaking Highland wilderness landscapes steeped in history, heritage, wildlife and culture. A stop at a private mountain bothy perched high on the hill (at 2,600ft), where guests enjoy premium local produce and a dram of whisky served by their very own kilted Safari Ranger completes this unforgettable experience.

Mike Cantlay, Chairman of Visit Scotland, said: “As people around the world gear up for the spectacular special effects of Jurassic World, it is great to see Highland Safaris making the most of this monster opportunity. I’m sure it will inspire even more people to enjoy the stunning landscapes and wildlife of the Highlands, something that doesn’t need Velociraptors or a T-Rex to make for an exhilarating adventure!”

43

44 What’s buzzin’

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

Bring Back the Smile to Nepal When news of the dev-

Breadalbane Cricket Club

astating 7.8 magnitude earthquake, that shook

Welcome to the second of our monthly diaries,

managed 5th and 6th place respectively, from

Nepal on April 25th, rever-

bringing you details of your local cricket club

102 teams originally entered. This success

berated around the world,

and news about Scotland’s second largest

is even more remarkable, when the relative

the reports were even more

team participation sport, behind football.

size and experience level of the schools is

distressing for the Gurung

Finally, after a bucket load of rain, a

measured against their opposition from Perth

family from the quiet village

blast of icy wind, a heap of hail and a glut of

and the private schools. Well done to them all.

of Kenmore, near Aberfeldy

cancellations, Breadalbane finally managed to get their season underway with a trip to

Outdoor practice sessions continue on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, in Victoria

in Perthshire.

Sanu and Anna Gurung

Falkland Cricket Club, in the south of the

Park. Everyone is welcome, regardless of age

had moved from Nepal to

county. Falkland, a national league club, always

and ability. So please come along and you

raise a family and to enable

provide tricky opposition and May 24th’s

will be assured of a warm welcome. Junior

Sanu to work in the rafting

match proved to be same. Sadly Breadalbane

sessions run from 5pm to 6pm on Thursdays.

and outdoor adventure busi-

could only post 97 (despite some sound

Older Juniors are invited and encouraged to

ness. Although Anna’s family

batting from skipper Mark Bowler ) and the

stay on and try their hand at “hard ball”, with

live in Aberdeenshire, the

experience of the Falkland openers proved to

the seniors.

couple settled on Perthshire.

be too much for the undercooked Breadalbane bowling attack, as they eased past the required total.

Back to the drawing board then, however the inclement weather meant it was a full two weeks until the Breadies were able to don their whites again for the visit to Spittlefield, to play local rivals Glendelvine. The match, always a friendly affair, was played in bright sunshine and captain Finlay Thom ( playing his last match of the season for the Club, before travelling abroad to work) chose to bat first.

Despite a steady start Breadalbane’s lack of experience and practice showed as the team struggled against tight bowling and a

“ The rivers, mountains and Remaining Fixtures for the 2015 season are

terrain make Perthshire very

listed here :

much like the areas of Nepal

Sun Jun 28

v St Modans

A

Div 2

Sun Jul 5

Semi Finals

Cup

Sun Jul 12

v Glenrothes

A

Div 2

Sun Jul 19

Cup Final Day

A

Cup

Sun Jul 26

v Glendelvine

H

Div 2

Sun Aug 2

v Alloa XI

A

Div 2

Sun Aug 9

v Falkland XI

H

Div 2

Sun Aug 16

v Callander

H

Div 2

Sat Aug 22

v North Berwick H

Friendly

Sun Aug 30

v Glenrothes

Div 2

H

Please come along and support the team.

swinging ball. Although managing to bat for

Matches in Victoria Park commence at 1pm.

38 of the possible 40 overs, the team could

Look out for reports from the remaining

that Sanu worked and grew up in. We knew we would feel at home here”. Anna explained.

They first met in 1993, when Anna travelled to Nepal. Although she had to return to the UK, the following year she made the arduous trip across the border from Bangladesh – where she had been working as a volunteer. A chance meeting brought them

only post a slender 89, with only Myles Bax,

games of the season in the next issue of

together again, they fell in

Mark Bridgeman and Greig Joss showing

Heartland Buzz, or on the club’s Facebook

love and married in 2000.

some resistance. A strong batting partnership

page – “Breadalbane Cricket Club Supporters”.

from the Glendelvine openers meant that, by the time Greig Joss removed Andrew Ross courtesy of a stunning catch by Stuart Gibson, the match was all but won. It was left to ex Breadalbane player Neil Wimberley to hit the winning runs, as Glendelvine ran out easy winners.

Despite these early season setbacks,

Pitlochry Gallery Association Summer Exhibition

however, there have been many positives for

Pitlochry Gallery Association will be holding their summer exhibition and sale

the Club. Spirit has been high and excellent

of art and crafts in the Atholl Centre, Pitlochry (next to the Tourist office and

availability has given the captain unforeseen

behind the Baptist Church) from the 27th July to the 15th August.

selection problems. Things bode well for the

Any local artists who would like to exhibit their work at the Pitlochry

future too, with the representative teams from

Gallery Association summer exhibition should contact Helen on 01796

Pitlochry and Breadalbane schools qualifying

470381 or hporter@intraspin.com to get further information. We are looking

for the Regional Junior Cricket finals. They

for more artists to exhibit with us and would welcome your call.

What’s buzzin’

The Heartland Buzz Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place!

Although they had always hoped to raise a family in Nepal, the political unrest in the country, which followed the 2001 massacre of King Birendra and nine members of the Royal family at the Narayanhity Royal Palace in Kathmandu, persuaded Sanu and Anna to uproot and settle in the tranquillity of Highland Perthshire.

With their three children, Sanu (39) and Anna (43) had visited Nepal as recently as October last year. Their family and friends still fresh in their minds, the news of the largest earthquake for 80 years meant an anxious and nerve racking wait, as they desperately tried to contact their family in the Darachok district of Nepal.

With phone lines down and power supplies sporadic, it was a fretful 72 hours spent trying to contact their loved ones. “Eventually”, Anna said, “we confirmed that Sanu’s parents had survived but their house was unsafe and they were having to live in tents”.

Further calls helped them discover that although Sanu’s Aunt had witnessed her house reduced to rubble, she had escaped unscathed. His sister, who lived in Kathmandu had also been lucky. They were able to breathe a huge sigh of relief.

Although their own family had been comparatively lucky, the couple’s deep affection for the country and it’s people meant they felt the need to try and help, in any way they could. Anna, together with one of her close friends Liz Holmes, immediately hit on the idea of a parachute jump, to raise funds for Mercy Corps relief efforts in Nepal.

In addition to the jump Anna also organised a fundraising dinner at the Molteno Hall in Fortingall.

“Nepal is a beautiful country”, said

strengthening to near the advisable

Anna, “the very first thing everyone

limit the brave pair jumped, in tandem,

notices, when they visit, is everyone’s

with their instructors from the Paragon

amazing smile. We want

Skydiving Club. After a

to do whatever we can to

period of nerve racking

help bring that back. The

free falling ( as they

monsoon season is coming,

accelerated to 120mph )

communications are difficult

their chutes opened and

and there are problems with

the pair floated safely

the drinking water. We decided

down, to cheers from their

we had to act now”

family and friends.

The Skydive, together

Anna worked tirelessly, finding a

with the fundraising

location,

dinner, has seen Anna

expert

raise over £11,500 for Nepal, in just over a week!

help and seeking out big hearted

However Anna does not intend to rest on

donations to help make

her laurels and will continue to fund raise in

the evening a huge

the coming weeks and months.

successful.

The dinner – under

Anyone who would like to donate, or keep up to date with Anna’s campaign can

the banner Bring Back

follow her progress @ facebook/Bring

The Smile To Nepal –

Back The Smile To Nepal.

was held on Saturday 16th May. 120 guests enjoyed a meal, music,

We would like to say a huge and

fundraising auction

heartfelt thank you to everyone in Highland

and entertainment and

Perthshire, and beyond, who have helped

raised over £8,000,

to make our fundraising campaign such a

towards disaster relief

success.

in Nepal.

Without your help, generosity, thought,

Anna made an

patience and hard work, we could not have

emotional speech, to

achieved so much in such a sort period of

open proceeding, as she thanked the team of volunteers, that had kindly given their

time.

From the local businesses, who have

time to help make the night a success. She

donated prizes so generously, to the

also paid tribute to the generosity of all the

individuals who selflessly gave their time

local individuals and businesses, small and

and effort we – quite simply – could not

large, who had gifted prizes and donations

have accomplished such a great deal for

towards the fundraising effort.

earthquake relief in Nepal.

“It’s amazing how quickly Anna and

All of our combined efforts have, to date,

Sanu have organised this event,” said Mark

raised in excess of £11,000. Thank you so

Bridgeman ( part of Team Anna ), “ only

much.

her astonishing drive and determination

Inspired by what we have raised so far,

during the last few weeks have made

the enthusiasm, good wishes of so many

this possible. A huge thank you also to

people and, of course most importantly, the

everyone that helped tonight, Anna and

sheer size and ongoing nature of the work

Sanu will never forget your generosity.”

required in Nepal, we hope to carry on the

Following the successful dinner, Anna moved swiftly on to her next fundraising

good work for as long as it is needed.

Knowing that so many people were able

exploit. On Sunday May 24th, Anna

to offer so much help and support to a land

– together with her friend Liz Holmes –

so far away, is something that we can all

took to the skies to raise yet more funds

be very proud of. Once again, thank you so

for Nepal. The intrepid pair completed

much

their skydive from 10,000 feet, above Errol Airfield, near Perth. Despite winds

Anna & Sanu Gurung

45

46 Art & creativity

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

MICHELLE MORTON

Scottish Artist Michelle Morton pursues her dream of working full time in her studio in Abernethy, Perthshire.

GET YOUR WORK FEATURED NEXT MONTH

FREE

Milk Cartons A range of my hand painted milk carton’s which are extremely popular. I have painted many for farms and wedding gifts. Their old fashioned shape brings back memories for many.

Art & creativity

The Heartland Buzz Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place!

M

ICHELLE SPECIALISES IN INTRICATE AND DETAILED HAND PAINTED CERAMICS, LARGE PLATTERS AND BOWLS, WEDDING GIFTS AND COMMISSIONS. MICHELLE ALSO PAINTS STILL LIFE AND LANDSCAPE PAINTINGS.

Tell us a little bit about you...

Whilst at college I was luckily enough to

nights in hotels painting and completing

get a job in Dunkeld at the ceramic studio,

commissions whilst trying to juggle

Going Pottie. My main role at the shop

working full time alongside the busy

I live with my partner Mike, we are engaged

was to teach others painting techniques,

farming life. I knew in 2014 at the age of

and getting married next year. Mike runs

as well as designing and painting pieces

27 that I wanted to pursue what I had

the farm with his father and we have a lab

for the shop to sell. I loved this job and

always dreamed of, this was the beginning

pup Voulen, some hens and cats. Walking

dreamed I would have a shop like this one

of some very big changes for myself.

the dog and running around the farm is

day!.

Soon after, the studio was finished in

often a starting point for many of my ideas.

Unfortunately, after completing my

September and I opened every weekend

My ideas are quickly drawn out on sketch

portfolio and my time at the pottery studio

leading up to Christmas, which was a huge

books before I paint them onto ceramics in

I didn’t get into art college due to not

success. I sold local produce, my hand

the studio.

gaining higher English. I then decided I was

made wreaths, ceramics and my paintings

As well as painting and the farming

going to go to

and the studio will ,

“

life, Mike and I spend a lot of time keeping

Napier university

fit, running, cycling, munro bagging,

in Edinburgh

competing in sporting events and we do

and completed

love our activity holidays! I enjoy cycling

an honours

around the western isles taking pictures

degree in Estate

of the beautiful beaches and landscapes,

Management.

which inspire some of my landscape

This was

paintings. I also love the fishing life and

something I had

take inspiration from around Fife, in

fancied doing, but I think I was confused

Perthshire open studio event, where

particular Crail and Elie.

at the time, as I was disheartened from

the studio will be open for the public to

refusal from art college and really didn’t

come and see me working and purchase

know what I wanted to do.

ceramics, paintings and more of my work.

One of my main themes in my work is the hen or ‘hennies’ as I like to call them.

I have always loved hens and started

I knew at the age of 27 I wanted to pursue what I always wanted”

once again, reopen this Christmas.

I now work as a professional artist solely at my art studio.

I am also taking part in the

Whilst studying, I had saved up enough

keeping them from a young age. This love

money to buy a kiln and some paints which

and fascination has stayed with me and is

I still use in the studio today and began

seen in many of my pieces today. I love the

doing a few pieces for friends and family.

colours, feathers, shapes and many types

Eventually I built up some confidence and

I officially started my business in October

and breeds, I love their individual quirky

enough pieces to attend local craft fairs. I

2014 when I left my full time job, but have

characters. I try and capture a glimpse of

had nowhere to paint except my bedroom,

been painting and doing commissions for

these characters in my pieces. I have also

so this quickly turned into my studio,

the last 10 years.

incorporated the hen theme within my new

where I would be painting night and day!.

logo and branding.

Where did the ceramic passion start?

Throughout school I was very artistic and creative and spent every hour in the art department. I completed my advanced higher art and did very well with straight A’s. I continued my passion for art, attending Dundee college and started an HNC in illustration, but knew it was just too computer focused for me so I continued developing my portfolio for entrance into art college.

I completed my degree in Edinburgh and had a real passion for renewable

How long has Michelle Morton being going?

Favourite Place?

energy when I finished. I successfully

My favourite place is Tiree in the Outer

got a job in Aberfeldy at Griffin Wind

Hebrides. The never ending white beaches

Farm, co-ordinating the environmental

and turquoise water never gets boring

team and loved it as I was out and about

and, as an artist, it provides me with some

learning lots and was fascinated with both

great inspiration. The little cottages, wild

the environment and the construction

flowers and birds are amazing to see, the

process. I spent 8 years working with

feeling of remoteness and that sense

SSE and worked my way up looking after

of being almost backwards has a lovely

some of the biggest wind farm projects in

uniqueness to it. No one seems to care

Scotland.

what time it is, well, apart from the ferry

I was working away from home a lot through 2013/2014 and spending many

times!.

47

48 Art & creativity

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

What inspires you?

My previous art teacher at school, Michael Alexander, was

What are your painting styles?

a big part of my life throughout school and growing up in

My still life paintings capture

my teenage years. He taught me a lot! I still remember

the strong colours and

many of these things and continue to incorporate them

lines of fruit, kitchen ware

into my work today.

and flowers, whilst my

I love the beauty of Emma Bridgewater’s work, the

watercolours are delicate and dainty and much more

style of artist and printer Angela Harding and the colour

subtle. My ceramic style of painting is quite a contrast to my

that Jolomo uses.

still life paintings. My paintings are far more free flowing and loose than some of my detailed ceramic painting, which is

What themes do you pursue?

more delicate.

Staying on a farm in Perthshire I have many fields full of ideas and colours, animals and flowers to look at which are a strong inspiration and are incorporated throughout many of my paintings and pieces today.

I love very delicate things such as feathers and flowers and capture this detail within my work. I also love to pick out certain elements in things (a poppy head for example) and enhance them.

My studio has the biggest piece of glass ever! I look out from this window everyday whilst working. It provides a beautiful backdrop for inspiration and is the perfect place to paint from with the changes in both colours and seasons.

What is an artistic outlook on life?

To make the most of what you see everyday, Scotland is a beautiful place and I get so many ideas pottering about outside at the farm. Around Perthshire my mind never stops thinking and being creative. I do try to capture as many memories as possible through my painting. Enjoy life as much as you can and ensuring a balance is achievable. I love to make people happy by painting something special for them and love to see my work displayed in people’s personal spaces. This can be quite touching.

delightfully “ Her unique one-off designs are truly stunning” Laura Thomas, Interior Design Blog

Support Dairy Farmers Campaign A collection of products I have been working on for the “Support Dairy farmers Campaign” with the NFU.

HELPING CREATIVES STAY CREATIVE!

Art & creativity

The Heartland Buzz Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place!

My life “inspires my

49

PHOTOGRAPHY

BY EILIDH ROBERTSON

overall style and subject of my art”

Country Collection Inspired by the Scottish shooting season, a strong passion for my father and my partner.

What are you working on just now?

Currently I am finalising new designs ready for my website, which will be being launched later in Autumn 2015. I am also working on ceramic lines for retailers and farm shops and a campaign to support local milk producers. I have also been

busy working on packaging and branding

in my studio and I am hosting painting

designs with graphic designers.

classes every month in the studio.

I get asked to do many commissions,

You can follow Michelle’s work

wedding presents, house platters and milk

on Facebook, facebook.com/

cartons, which are very popular indeed. I

michellemortondesigns and the

have had orders from London and America

Perthshire Open Studios for opening

recently and hope to expand this when my

times, updates and directions,

website is live. I have just started teaching

facebook.com/perthshireopenstudios

Nautical Themed Jugs Hand painted and Inspired by the seashore, seabirds and beach houses.

Primrose Florals A lovely hand painted pretty little range inspired by Primroses from the garden.

50 Things to see

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

Out of the

Earth

Roy Cameron showing his Bronze Age torc to the public; detail of copper ore from a local mine.

CELEBRATING PERTH & KINROSS ARCHAEOLOGY MONTH

E

ach year the Crannog Crew

tree trunk. Pot-making was led by master

pottery workshop on Sunday which were

looks forward to June, a

craftsman Graham Taylor, who helped

booked separately.

month in which we wel-

visitors shape clay into small Neolithic

come summer with Solstice

and Bronze Age style pots. For those who

Perth & Kinross Archaeology Month has been coordinated by PKHT since 2003.

The annual

celebrations, cultivate our Celtic garden and pay tribute to the wealth of heritage sites in our midst with special events for Perth & Kinross

programme ran

A selection of Bronze Age

throughout June

tools used in our event.

and featured guided walks,

Archaeology Month.

talks, excava-

The month concluded with our special experimental archaeology

tions and special

weekend event, ‘Out of the Earth:

activities across

Crafting the Past from Discoveries

the region. There

Underwater’ with demonstrations

were many new

and hands-on opportunities for

events this year

adults and youngsters alike. Inspired

and two new

by prehistoric artefacts found in

explorer guides

crannog excavations and elsewhere

have been produced, focus-

across Scotland, our programme featured metalworking, woodworking and

wanted more time and tuition, Graham ran

ing on the Iron Age of Loch Tay and Loch

pot-making to create objects for use in the

a workshop on Bronze Age and Iron Age

Tummel and the Archaeology of Glenshee.

recreated Crannog in Loch Tay. The Cen-

pot-making, where participants created

Copies of the 2015 PAM programme,

tre’s metalworking team of Dirk Sporleder

their own prehistoric cooking pots and

together with the new guides, are free

and Roy Cameron

decorated them using replicas

and available from Visit Scotland Informa-

smelted ore and

from an ancient potter’s toolkit.

tion Centres, libraries and the Scottish

cast replica bronze

As early Iron Age pottery finds

Crannog Centre. For further details, please

axes and chisels to

from mainland Scotland are

visit www.pkht.org.uk. For details of other

show the process

often plain and crudely made, the

Crannog Centre events, please visit www.

of ancient tool-

majority of participants chose to

crannog.co.uk and our facebook pages or

making. Woodwork-

copy the more patterned forms

telephone 01887 830583.

ing, led by David

seen on Bronze Age vessels.

The event ran from 11am-

Strachan of Perth & Kinross Herit-

5pm on the 27th and 28th June.

age Trust (PKHT),

Admissions included entry to all indoor and outdoor exhibits, the

demonstrated tools and experiments

Dirk Sporleder with freshly

Crannog, the ancient technology

with carving a solid

cast Bronze Age chisel in

tent and the experimental activi-

log ladder from a

sand mould.

ties, with the exception of the

The type of pots that were made at the event.

Things to see

The Heartland Buzz Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place!

WIN A CRANNOG EXPERIENCE Send us your favourite Crannog photos and you could win a tour of the Crannog for two plus one hour cooking experience using a clay oven AND get your image published in The Heartland Buzz!

CLOSING DATE 31ST AUGUST

SEND YOUR IMAGES TO INFO@CRANNOG.CO.UK MAX. FILE SIZE 3Mb

We will be showcasing the winner and some of the best images in the issue of The Heartland Buzz AFTER the closing date. Open to over 16’s | Colour images only | Open to professional and amateur | Digital images only | No people unless the image is accompanied by letters of consent allowing reproduction of the images | We have right to reproduce photographs in The Heartland Buzz and Crannog social media/web pages.

Crannog Image ©Angus Clyne. All other images © Scottish Crannog Centre.

10.00am to 2.00pm in Aberfeldy Town Square 1st Sunday of the Month, May to October Showcasing the very best of Perthshire’s famous food larder

Aberfeldy’s own independent food stores, shops & cafés will also be open, along with other attractions in & around the town for all the family to enjoy.

Why not come along and make a day of it. www.visitaberfeldy.co.uk

For further details contact Fiona MacEwan

T: 01887 829 343 M:0799 0834 092

E: aberfeldymarket@btopenworld.com

ASBA (Aberfeldy Small Business Association)

51

Thyme at Errichel is a stunning, fully licensed Restaurant with Rooms, & Luxury Holiday Cottages with spectacular views near Aberfeldy.

EST

OUR B

Stay Dine Celebrate Create Shop Tel: 01887 820850 enquiries@errichel.co.uk www.errichel.co.uk Errichel, Crieff Road, Aberfeldy, Perthshire, Scotland. PH15 2EL

Health & fitness

The Heartland Buzz Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place!

Ouch, My Back T

here are many causes of pain, or loss of function of muscles and joints, and that is why your chiropractor or osteopath is fully trained to diagnose and treat where appropriate. Both professions are regulated, state registered and require their members’ to be fully insured.

Much of the pain comes from muscles, which are rich in pain sensitive nerves, and form the first line of defence when the joints need protection. They also inform the brain of real or potential problems.

The fine balance between muscles at rest and muscles at work becomes scrambled, the body may be pulled out of alignment and other pains may start to develop as muscles try to compensate. The trigger to all this may have started long before, and may relate to an old injury, unaccustomed activity, too long in one position, dietary problems, a virus infection – or something more serious on a few occasions.

That is why taking a patient history is so important in order to diagnose. Just taking pain relievers, or anti-inflammatories, is not sorting the problem, but is sometimes enough to give the body respite to sort itself out.

Getting to know your body, and looking

‘My back has gone’, ‘I’ve trapped a nerve, or slipped a disc’. ‘Maybe it’s sciatica, or perhaps I’ve pulled a muscle’.

AS A CHIROPRACTOR I HEAR ALL SORTS OF EXPLANATIONS FOR SUDDEN, SHARP PAIN AND MUSCLE SPASM THAT HAS SOMETIMES ARRIVED OUT OF THE BLUE. QUITE OFTEN SUFFERERS ARE UNAWARE OF DOING ANYTHING TO PROVOKE THE PROBLEM.

after it, saves a lot of trouble (and the NHS money!) Self-help in the form of exercise, like a good brisk walk, stretching (as in yoga), or core muscle strengthening (as in Pilates) is recommended.

Understanding when your pain comes on, or how it is relieved can help you and your practitioner. When is it worse? Does it relate to sitting, walking, standing, lying, etc? Does it seem to relate to footwear, activity or rest? Awareness of general health, like recurrent digestive problems, can be relevant too.

And if you can’t sort this out a chiropractor might be able to help.

I was an NHS trained physiotherapist and, after 10 years in the health service, took myself to Chiropractic College back in the early 80s. Since then I have also used a method called Applied Kinesiology throughout my years of practice. This helps to give me a broad, holistic approach to my work. Manipulation may not be appropriate, or tolerated, by the patient. I might refer you back to your doctor, suggest acupuncture, or prescribe supplements for example.

One session may suffice, but follow up is usually necessary, and the treatment approach can be discussed. If you require any further information then please feel free to get in touch.

PATRICIA WAITE I am available at Offizone, Kenmore Street, Aberfeldy on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, by appointment only.

Please call 07808 223 960 (office) or 01887 820050 (home).

53

54 Art & creativity

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

Fortingall Art Exhibition

2015 SUMMER EXHIBITION

FREE ENTRY

“Amazing, inspirational, something for everyone”

Open daily for the two weeks 10am – 6pm Molteno Hall, Fortingall, Perthshire. PH15 2LW

Fortingall Art is Highland Perthshire’s most prestigious annual art exhibition, held every summer since 2004, in the village of Fortingall.

Set up and still run by local artists, the exhibition features selected paintings, photography, print, sculpture, ceramics, jewellery and bespoke furniture in a stunning rural setting. This year work by over 30 Artists is on show and features several newcomers, as well as many regular exhibitors.

Fortingall Art is a not for profit organisation run by volunteers and aimed to support the local artists it features. All proceeds from sales are put back into improving the exhibition year on year.

The village of Fortingall is famed for its 5000 year old yew tree, thought to be the oldest yew tree in Europe, and also for its unique architecture, designed by James McLaren. Fortingall is also the perfect jumping off point to explore the wilder areas of Highland Perthshire, with Glen Lyon and Loch Tay nearby.

An important feature of the Exhibition is the Mini Art Competition. Local Schools and individuals are invited to produce CD sized pieces of Artwork, within six age groups, for inclusion in the competition. Regularly attracting over 400 entries, it is a challenging task for the judges to decide the winners from the many inspiring artworks. All the entries are exhibited, which creates a stunning display enjoyed by all.

Now an established highlight in Perthshire’s cultural calendar, Fortingall Art Exhibition draws over 1500 visitors from all over the UK every year. Held in the unique ‘arts and crafts’ Molteno Hall, the exhibitions venue is as distinctive as the quality of the art it features.

SATURDAY 25TH JULY TO SUNDAY 9TH AUGUST

56 Sport & events

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

After months of negotiations, lots of preparation and some great support from the National Trust for Scotland, Perthshire saw its first ski competition on Ben Lawers for almost 60 years.

Lawers of Gravity On the Saturday morning of 11th April the inaugural “Lawers of Gravity” freeride competition brought off-piste skiers and boarders from right across the country, and even from Europe, to the South East facing slopes of Meall Nan Tarmachan in the Ben Lawers Range.

This was to be Scotland’s very first “Hike and Ride” snowsports event, forming part of the annual SCOTTISH FREEDOM SERIES – a series of freeride events held around the country on different mountains.

Freeride? What’s that all about then… well it’s simply skiing or snowboarding on steep, natural, un-groomed terrain, without a set course, goals or rules. Freeriding offers complete freedom for the skier, or boarder, to make the most of whatever terrain comes their way.

The Heartland Buzz Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place!

Sport & events

57

This was Scotland’s first hike and ride event in a non lift-served ski area and it is hoped that not only will the Lawers of Gravity become an regular annual event, but that other hike and rise events can be established at some of the other fantastic off piste areas.

Thanks go out to the sponsors, Zag, Rossignol, Scarpa, Black Crows, Freegun, BCA, Dynafit and Teko for providing great prizes and funding the series.

Each individual rider’s route varies, and is meticulously planned and executed to ensure they maximise scores from the on-looking judges, who award points for the choice of line, the fluidity of the ride, the technique demonstrated and the control, air and style.

Constantly changing weather and snow conditions add extra challenges to riders, who might find themselves riding from sheet ice onto soft powder in both snow showers and sunshine, all in one single run down the mountain.

So on the Saturday morning at the base of Meall nan Tarmachan, by the dam, the 40 to 55mph winds blew and snow showers battered the car park. The weather was not looking particularly favourable! Despite the conditions, competitor and event team spirits were high, as this was the final deciding event that would separate this year’s series winners from the rest of the pack.

All 30 competitors had shown up, so the decision was made by Snowsport Scotland’s Iain Ramsay-Clapham and Iain Fitzpatrick from “Zag” freeride skis uk to press ahead. Registration was completed and skiers and boarders were issued with their competition bib numbers. All competitors started their hike up the mountain with a crossing of the dam and then up the 700+ meter, 45 degree ascent. At the top of the first plateau the organisers selected a suitable competition start area and a competitor briefing confirmed that the entire field would receive 2 runs, the cores of which would be added together to determine their

final ranking.

The start flags were placed and the judges skied the face to ascertain the difficulty and technicality of the face, before settling down to start judging from their vantage point. Within moments the first rider was given the all clear to go, but just at that point the visibility dropped to zero with giant snowflakes being blown horizontally. Everybody just had to curl up and ride out the blizzard.

Ten minutes later the visibility returned offering the judges a clear line of sight to the top of the mountain.

First out of the start gate was snowboarder Laura Donaldson. Being the first rider on the face she had virtually unblemished super smooth snow conditions.

Wisely, Laura chose a line that offered snow all the way to the bottom of the face, taking a clear route all the way down to the bottom, past the judges.

Skiing just on snow was, however, not to

be the order of the day, as some of the top male riders sought to pick more adventurous and expressive lines across grass and 20/30ft vertical rock faces. So this was to be the form for an afternoon that soon offered light winds and blue skies.

As riders completed their runs they gathered at the finish to cheer on the competition, before then climbing back to the top for their second judged runs.

After all runs were concluded competitors made their way back down the mountain under a gentle flurry of two pence size snow drops, giving a nice atmosphere to the end of the event.

With equipment stowed back in vehicles, it was onward to the Killin Hotel for prize giving. Great banter and chat ensued in the bar as the judges deliberated over their results, and finally the announcements were ready to be made.

Full results and event details are available at www.freedomseries.co.uk

58 Gardening

D

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

id you know that some garden plants deserve medals?

I’d nominate the Candelabra Primrose for a medal for its survivalist tendencies!

It’s an Asiatic primula and there are many different

species and hybrids such as Primula japonica, Primula x bulleesiania, Primula bulleyana and Primula chungensis.

It’s extremely hardy; extremely forgiving when grown in damp clay soil and extremely happy to grow in the shade.

I’m sure the majority of us have problem areas in our gardens; whether its deer, rabbits, deep shade, or in my case, badly draining clay soil.

Over the years I’ve improved most of the soil in my garden except for one cold north facing border. In hindsight, this should have been my first project from the moment we moved in… but being an ‘impatient’ gardener I planted the

by Rosie Nixon

area with my favourite shade loving plants. Then

who can be found

over a few subsequent

writing about her own

wet summers and winters

Perthshire garden at

I watched them turn into

leavesnbloom.com

garden casualties. I learned a valuable and expensive

lesson back then – only grow plants that can cope with your garden soil!

The Candelabra primrose is one of my few survivors. It thrives in the damp clay soil and happily self-seeds all over the border. From a ground hugging rosette of leaves appear tall stems with about 6 tiered whorls of flower buds. When the bottom whorl of lightly scented flowers have been pollinated then the whorl above opens its flowers; so you end up with flowers from mid-May until the end of June.

How to grow

Plant in partial shade, though ideal for a bog garden in full sun, or along a stream.

Needs rich moisture retentive neutral – acid soil.

Flowers May – June in colours ranging from pink to shades of terracotta.

Fully hardy.

Divide large clumps after flowering and give the new divisions plenty of water while they establish.

They lose their leaves in winter.

HEIGHT 30-60cm

THE CANDELABRA PRIMROSE

EASY TO GROW

Reviews

The Heartland Buzz Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place!

The Monthly Book Review Dacre’s War

Nature’s Architect

Rosemary Goring

Jim Crumley

Published by Birlinn

Published by Saraband, 16th July

THESE AND THE BEST OF NEW BOOKS ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE WATERMILL

100 Masterpieces from the National Galleries of Scotland John Leighton Published by National Galleries of Scotland

£14.99

£12.99

HARDBACK

£24.95

Dacre’s War is a story of personal and political vengeance. Set ten years after the battle of Flodden, Adam Crozier, head of his clan and of an increasingly powerful alliance of Borderers, learns for sure that it was Lord Thomas Dacre - now the most powerful man in the north of England who ordered his father’s murder.

He determines to take his revenge.

As a fighting man, Crozier would like nothing

Hundreds of years after their extinction in these isles, beavers are back in Britain.

These highly skilled engineers of the natural world have been reintroduced at several sites across the UK and, even as they become established, are already having a dramatic effect on our wild landscapes.

Here, leading nature writer Jim

art, encompassing artists as diverse as Titian and Francis Bacon; Warhol, Hockney and Pablo Picasso.

This lavishly illustrated

Employing his trademark beautiful prose

book,

and empathy

contains

for life in the

more

wild, Crumley

than two

considers

hundred

the future

he must use more subtle methods. So he

for Britain’s

sets out to engineer Dacre’s downfall by

beavers and

turning the machinery of the English court

makes the case

against him. A vivid and fast-moving tale

for giving them

of political intrigue and heartache, Dacre’s

their freedom.

War is set against the backdrop of the

Jim

Scottish and English borders, a land where

28 July, 7pm. Tickets £3 from The Watermill.

many of the greatest names in Western

impact of the beaver reintroductions.

face but his wife Louise advises him that

‘Dacre’s War’ at The Watermill, Wednesday

galleries in the world. Its collection includes

and considers the ecological and economic

down face to

with ‘Herald’ Editor Alan Taylor about

widely regarded as one of the finest small

these intriguing and secretive creatures

bring Dacre

Hear Rosemary Goring in conversation

The National Galleries of Scotland is

Crumley reveals the pioneering lifestyle of

better than to

there is never any chance of peace.

PAPERBACK

Crumley will be talking about and signing copies of’’Nature’s Architect’ at The Watermill on Thursday 23rd July at 7pm. Tickets £3 from The Watermill.

of the National Galleries of Scotland’s greatest and best-loved treasures, each accompanied by an informative text written by the Galleries’ curators.

Not only does this book provide a fascinating introduction to the national collection but it is also an accessible and informative introduction to the history of art and the interplay between Scottish and international art.

What’s On at The Watermill Thursday 23rd July, 7pm Award winning nature writer Jim Crumley talks about his new book ‘Nature’s Architect’. Wednesday 29th July, 7pm Rosemary Goring in conversation with ‘Herald’ Editor Alan Taylor about her new book Dacre’s War. 13th June - 28th July Zanna Wilson ‘Travelling the Crieff Road’ art exhibition. Watercolour paintings inspired by a daily journey on the 23 mile moorland road between Aberfeldy and Crieff. 1st August - 16th September Jane Hunter ‘The Cloth – The Land – The Earth ll’ art exhibition. The geology of the Highlands interpreted in freehand embroidery and appliqué using Harris Tweed and other Scottish textiles. The Watermill, Mill Street, Aberfeldy, PH15 2BG t. 01887 822896

61

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Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

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£229 + VAT / 3 months block booking

+ VAT

£299 + VAT / 3 months block booking

Our Design Service

Artwork Submission

Although we offer a free advert design service, it is up to you,

We offer a free, professional design service for every advert

the client who purchases the advert, to supply any content

purchased. If you are supplying your own artwork, adverts

and imagery.

should be prepared to the correct dimensions with bleed if required. All artwork should be sent as a high quality PDF

In the event of adverts requiring more attention due to the

300dpi CMYK and emailed to hello@heartlandbuzz.co.uk.

amount of content, imagery required and time spent creating an advert the client will be notified before commencing.

In this case it is the responsibility of The Heartland Buzz to

Distribution

advise the client on any extra cost and this will be discussed

The Heartland Buzz is distributed 18-20 days after the copy

and agreed with the client before any work will take place.

deadline for each individual issue.

+ VAT

£10 + VAT / 3 months block booking

SELL OR RENT YOUR HOME WITH THE HEARTLAND BUZZ FROM

£30

*

Advertising & rates

The Heartland Buzz Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place!

Why advertise with us?

•

ALL our adverts & flyer packages are in full colour.

•

The only A4 high quality advertising magazine in Heartland Perthshire.

•

FREE professional advert design service with advert purchase.

•

FREE advertising, editorials & exposure for new small businesses*

•

Advice and guidance on advert design from experienced professionals.

•

Over 14 years graphic design & advertising experience.

LOOKING FOR SOMETHING A LITTLE UNIQUE?

The small business pack.

The large business pack.

Door to door mail drop.

A double page spread split editorial & advertising plus a further HALF page advert in the magazine.

A double page spread split editorial & advertising plus a further FULL page advert in the magazine.

We also offer a monthly door drop service that we can arrange alongside our magazine drop date. We offer competitive prices beating other companies in price every time.

£499

£549

£POA

+ VAT

+ VAT

The cost effective flyer pack.

The luxury flyer pack.

The informative flyer pack.

5000 x A5 double sided 115gsm gloss A5 flyers designed, printed, packaged alongside The Heartland Buzz and delivered direct to businesses & homes throughout the Heartland.

5000 x A5 double sided luxury 250gsm silk flyers designed, printed, packaged alongside The Heartland Buzz and delivered direct to businesses and homes throughout the Heartland.

5000 x 4pg 115gsm gloss A5 flyer booklets designed, printed, packaged alongside The Heartland Buzz and delivered direct to businesses & homes throughout the Heartland.

£319

£389

£539

£299 / 3 month block booking

£369 / 3 month block booking

£519 / 3 month block booking

Cancellation: Cancellation fees apply for all advertising. Prices subject to change without further notice. Payment Terms: All our prices are +VAT. We invoice on booking of adverts and payment is due before our magazine goes to print or you risk losing your adverting spot. Payment can be made by BACS, cheque or PayPal. All our prices are + VAT. Prices are subject to change without notice. Website, graphic design & adverts by www.z3ro.co.uk. We reserve the right to refuse any material that we may find offensive or unsuitable for publication.

Please NOTE: After sign off, if the items contain errors of text, spelling, numerical errors to telephone numbers or contain any error relating to the content, this is the SOLE RESPONSIBILITY of the client and not The Heartland Buzz. In the event of an error, the TOTAL COSTS INCURRED will be the RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CLIENT and not The Heartland Buzz. Even if the errors are from The Heartland Buzz it is still the responsibility of the client to identify these upon preview presentation. Spelling and Grammatical errors are part of the sign off process and if an item is printed/published with these kind of errors after sign off from you the client, it is not the responsibility of The Heartland Buzz. *Plus VAT **We select small businesses that we believe are beneficial to the community. If we feel your business is for the greater good of the community then we want to promote your business and help you get going.

This offer is not open for ALL small businesses, however if you feel your business is something special or quirky then we would love to hear from you! This offer is only available once per business. We are a creative magazine at heart, calling all creative individuals... we want to help you too!

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HIGHLAND SAFARIS

VISITOR ATTRACTION

Safaris • Red Deer Centre • Café • Trail Centre ABERFELDY • PERTHSHIRE • SCOTLAND

Open all Year!

Best Visitors Experience ASVA 2012

Book your Land Rover Safari on 01887 820071 or visit www.highlandsafaris.net

land rov er safaris Award Winning Experiences Choose a Safari option & explore these awe-inspiring mountains to experience ‘A unique journey of discovery’

eat and

shop

Tasty Food & Imaginative Gifts Set in a stunning location our cafe serves delicious homemade lunches, cakes & coffee, original gifts & outdoor gear.

Play Area & Tractor Park.

discover

trail cen

tre

y

Red Deer Centre and Gold and Gem Panning Come face to face with Britain’s largest land mammal and meet our beautiful Barn Owl. Walk the Discovery Trail and have fun panning for Gold and Gems.

Walking & Biking Woodland walks, biking trails, route maps, bike hire, bike wash, “Drop at the Top” Safaris & our MTB Skills Loop.

Aberfeldy Perthshire PH15 2JQ Tel: 01887 820071 www.highlandsafaris.net info@highlandsafaris.net