Trend Mar /Apr 2021 by Trend Productions Ltd.

Graduate to fashion GRAY'S GRADUATES WITH FASHIONABLE FUTURES

ABERDEEN CLINIC | 3

ambulatory care at the Aberdeen Clinic

AC offers a range of procedures which can be carried out as an out-patient. Ambulatory care provides simple, minor procedures without the need for a general anaesthetic or admission to hospital. The aim of ambulatory services is to admit, treat and discharge the patient on the same day Traditional inpatient operations are being rapidly replaced by office, outpatient or day surgery procedures which reduce infection risks and provide a safe means of undertaking operations that may incur long waits in the current climate. We can often arrange same or next-day appointments - you'll be seen by our consultants at a time that's convenient for you and you will be sure to receive treatment that adheres to our BEST practice promise:

B E S T

Best value Effective treatment Safely delivered Timely - at a time that suits you

Services that can be undertaken on an ambulatory care basis are as follows:

Gynaecology Procedures include hysteroscopy, removal of endometrial polyps, fibroids as well as investigations for infertility, post-menopausal and abnormal bleeding.

Endoscopy Upper GI Endoscopy, Colonoscopy, Flexible Sigmoidoscopy Procedures

Vascular Procedures: Radio Frequency ablation, foam sclerotherapy, micro sclerotherapy

General Surgery

All services are undertaken by Consultants and supported by our laboratories for blood tests and pathology analysis. We can also offer ultrasound with our radiological specialist teams to support any treatment that you might require.

Procedures: Local Anaesthetic hernia repairs, removal of lumps and bumps, Vasectomies and ingrown toenail procedures. Minor ano rectal problems e.g. haemorrhoids

Tel: 0333 0143 488 theaberdeenclinic.com

4 | ABERDEEN CLINIC

OPENING THE DOORS TO LOOKING GOOD & FEELING FANTASTIC

he team at Bloom can’t wait to welcome guests back into their amazing new city centre hair and beauty salon as soon as this is allowed. Owner Sheona Forrest commented, ‘Everyone has felt the effects of lockdowns and restrictions, how you look and feel are deeply connected. Something as simple as having my own hair cut I know at times would have helped me feel better!. To help everyone get back into the swing of things, pre our doors opening we’re offering virtual consultations, so you can plan your post-lockdown hair and beauty regime. During the consultation, the team can book you in for an appointment and recommend a giveaway treat for your salon visit, including a complimentary hair treatment to get your locks back to their best and 30 minute beauty experience. If you would rather wait till we are open, you can book your complimentary consultation with

the add on treatments as a visit to the salon and meet the team. If you book through the consultation service you will also receive a gift voucher to use in the salon. ‘As well as great hair and beauty treatments, clients returning to the salon can be assured that we’re working within all the latest safety guidelines. Each team member works with you and you alone during your visit, following our strict social distancing, safety and hygiene protocols. We pride ourselves in making sure you still have a relaxing visit and come out looking refreshed and feeling amazing.’

As well colour and styling services using eco-responsible brand Davines, Bloom also offers a full menu of modern beauty treatments using sustainable, eco-friendly products including Comfort Zone. You can book skin, body, lash and brow treatments to fit around your hair appointment, making it a convenient one-stop makeover shop. You’ll find Bloom, appropriately enough, on the corner of Rose Street and Thistle Street at the heart of the West End retail community’. To book your consultation appointment and get a head start on looking and feeling great email the team on aberdeen@ bloomlifestyle.co.uk Anderson House, 24 Rose Street, AB10 1UA Tel: 01224 446750 bloom_aberdeen bloomlifestyle.co.uk

6 | CONTENTS

FASHION

Strike a pose: Fluid lines & shapes for spring 20 Re:touch our pick of the best transitional trenches 28 Watchword: What to consider when buying a watch 30

16 58

HEALTH, BEAUTY & WELLBEING 10 New balls, please: Our guide to local racquet sports 13 The benefits of spending time in nature 16 Treat yourself to a subscription box

ART, & CULTURE

50 Discover Annie Baillie, con woman extraordinaire 58 Graduate into fashion: Gray’s graduates showcase 62 Creative: Meet Jane Keenan of Jane Keenan Designs

FOOD & DRINK

Boxing clever: Restaurant food boxes & local options 32 Ask the Chef: Looking forward to fresh flavours of spring 35

LIFESTYLE

A Mother's Day gift guide for the hard to please 38 The Big Interview: Meet Pam Cradock 64

HOMES & GARDENS

44 Interiors: All in the family 46 Gardens: Kirsty McLean on planting for structure

TRAVEL & LEISURE

08 Make the most of March & April 52 Travel: Glamping it up close to home 56 Kids: Running wild

ADVERTISEMENTS WELCOME | 7

ISSUE N0. 80 | MAR/APR 21

FROM THE

EDITOR Hello again, This issue marks a year since the first lockdown began, but we’ve got our fingers crossed that maybe this spring will bring a little more freedom for us all. This time last year most of us assumed we’d have an extended holiday for two or three weeks, work from home, learn to make banana bread and head out for a walk in the sunshine each day. Fast forward a year and COVID-19 has taken a bigger toll than any of us anticipated. We know that this has had a profound impact on many local businesses that simply don’t have the depth of resources to shut up shop for a year. It’s not just the virus that will claim casualties. So far, the vaccination programme seems to be working well and both the Scottish and UK government have unveiled their latest timelines for

opening up education, business and leisure, so we may be able to live a fuller life from the end of April onwards. We’re looking forward to so many things that we took for granted before. Seeing family and friends again, going out to dinner, heading to the cinema, getting our hair colour back to where it’s meant to be, taking our books back to the library, crossing regional boundaries, going on holiday or just heading out to do some entirely non-essential shopping. So many things will seem new again. So, when we’re allowed the opportunity and you feel ready, let’s not take the simple pleasures of life for granted again. Make the most of it. Love Everyone at Trend x

All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is strictly prohibited. Prices are correct at time of going to press, but may be subject to change. Trend cannot be held responsible for unsolicited material. The views and opinions by contributors in the magazine may not represent the views of the publisher. Trend Productions Ltd takes no responsibility for claims made by advertisers in this publication. T&Cs apply to all competitions & offers.

PUBLISHED BY TREND PRODUCTIONS LTD PO Box 11858, Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire AB39 9AN +44 (0)1224 596223 info@trendmagazine.co.uk trendmagazine.co.uk

DIRECTOR Gill Buyers gill@trendmagazine.co.uk EDITOR Alison Daniels alison@trendmagazine.co.uk ADVERTISING Clare Findlay clare@trendmagazine.co.uk DESIGN Lisa Thompson lisa@trendmagazine.co.uk ACCOUNTS Jill Walker jwalker@trendmagazine.co.uk PRINT Stephens & George Print Group

Contributors Kirsty McLean, Shanay Taylor

On the Cover PHOTOGRAPHER © Shutterstock/Indira's work

8 | WHAT'S ON

08 MAR INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY Tell your female friends what you most admire about them. 14 MAR MOTHER'S DAY Show some appreciation for your mummy ALL OF MARCH WALK ALL OVER CANCER Get fit and fund raise with Walk All Over Cancer. Cancerresearchuk.org want you to clock up 10,000 steps a day. cancerresearchuk.org/getinvolved/find-an-event/walk-all-over-cancer 05-14 MAR BRITISH SCIENCE WEEK Grab your lab coat and download a free kid’s activity pack from britishscienceweek.org. This year’s theme is Innovating the Future.

17 MAR ST PATRICK'S DAY Try a slow cooked Irish stew with colcannon and some home-made soda bread or indulge in a Guinness. 19 MAR COMIC RELIEF/RED NOSE DAY Raise some money and have a laugh. 20 MAR FIRST DAY OF SPRING Treat yourself to a bunch of daffodils to celebrate the end of winter.

21 MAR WORLD POETRY DAY Roses are red, Violets are blue, How you finish this poem, Is entirely up to you. Read some poetry today, or compose your own.

WHAT'S ON | 9

OUR PICK OF THE BEST GOING OUT & STAYING HOME ACTIVITIES IN MARCH & APRIL

ALL OF APRIL JAZZ APPRECIATION It’s Jazz Appreciation Month in the USA. Challenge yourself to listen to music by an unfamiliar artist once a week. It can be jazz, classical, R&B or heavy metal - just try something new. Exchange playlists with the kids or a friend with different tastes. NATIONAL PET MONTH National Pet Month. Time for a new toy or two. 04 APRIL INTERNATIONAL PILLOW FIGHT DAY Don’t tell anyone, just launch a sneak attack first thing in the morning.

22 APR-04 MAY THE BIG PEDAL Squeeze into that Lycra onesie and take to the open road. bigpedal.org.uk

04 APRIL EASTER SUNDAY Have an Easter egg hunt, make an Easter bonnet or have an egg decorating contest with the kids 19-25 APRIL INTERNATIONAL DARK-SKY WEEK Time to find out more about the night sky.

24 APRIL SCREAM DAY Screaming releases stress and tension. Best not to try it in your work Zoom meeting and maybe let the neighbours know what you’re planning ahead of time. 25 APRIL WORLD PENGUIN DAY Watch Happy Feet and eat chocolate biscuits. 29 APRIL INTERNATIONAL DANCE DAY Time for a kitchen disco.

All events are subject to change or cancellation, so check before heading out.

10 | HEALTH

If your main form of exercise during lockdown has been ripping open packets of biscuits, now’s the time to consider taking up a racquet sport.

reviously, tennis was one of the first sports allowed to start up after restrictions, so we’re hoping that courts will be available again now the temperatures are getting closer to double figures. Nets are an inbuilt form of social distancing! There are plenty of options once things start to open up again. David Lloyd Club has five indoor and two outdoor courts and there are excellent indoor

HEALTH | 11

facilities at Westburn Park. The Lawn Tennis Association has lists of coaches, courts and LTA affiliated clubs on their website. There are LTA affiliated clubs in Insch, Oldmeldrum, Westhill, Portlethen and Inverurie. City-based clubs include Rubislaw, Cults, Albury, Torry, Kings College and Westburn. Most of the region’s larger villages and towns will have courts. Tennis is great for the whole family and you don’t need to be skilled to enjoy it. Check with your local club or courts to see if they have coaching sessions for beginners or people who haven’t played in years. The LTA normally runs a scheme for children aged four to eleven which includes six coaching sessions, a racquet and balls and a t-shirt for £35, which is great value. They even have lots of exercises and tennis-related activities on their website for kids, so you can build up some skills before hitting the courts. Unlike golf, tennis doesn’t have to be expensive to start with. It’s important to get the right balance and grip size when choosing a racquet, so it’s best if you can visit a sports retailer with expertise.

Thistle Sports on Rose Street carries a good range of racquets and can fit grips or restring an existing racquet for you. Unless you’re playing at Wimbledon, tennis kit comes in every shade and a great variety of shapes and high-tech fabrics. If you’re looking to try a racquet sport, tennis isn’t the only option. David Lloyd Aberdeen, the Aberdeen Sports Village and RGU: Sport all offer badminton courts, with the Sports Village also offering courts for squash and racquetball. Badminton’s more about delicate control than running about, while squash and racquet ball need short bursts of power, speed and strength, combined with a desire to see your opponent run head first into a side wall. The Aberdeen Squash and Racquetball Club at Mannofield offers a couple of courts, a good social scene, coaching and leagues for all levels of participant. The city has badminton courts available at many of the sports and leisure centres, as well as two bookable squash courts at Kincorth. Who knows, you could be the next Andy Murray.

12 | IN-BRIEF

George takes up Operations Director role at VT Wealth VT Wealth to appoint George Thom as their first-ever Operations Director at the start of this year. Based between the company’s offices in Aberdeen and Fraserburgh, George will work closely with his wife Vee and their ambitious team, at an exciting time of growth for their Financial Planning business. Previously, George enjoyed a 38 year Banking career with RBS/ NatWest and for the past 4 years has held a Management role at St. James’s Place.

Pictured, from left, are: Peter McDougall, Bertwin Zonneveld and Kyle McAskill.

New faces at Hendrik Veder Steel wire and fibre rope specialist Hendrik Veder Group has appointed three new faces to its Aberdeen operation. Following a spell as Chief Commercial Officer at the group’s Rotterdam HQ, Bertwin Zonneveld has been appointed UK Managing Director, located in Aberdeen. With more than 20 years of experience at director and senior management level, Bertwin previously served as interim MD in the UK, and

was keen to extend his tenure after seeing the further potential in the team and the region. Also bolstering the team as it looks to the future are recently-appointed sales managers, Kyle McAskill and Peter McDougall. Peter’s decade of experience in wire rope and lifting solutions coupled with Kyle’s network opening up a new client base are both set to play key roles in realising ambitious growth targets.

ADVERTISEMENTS | 13

That’s why the Scottish walking charity, Paths for All, has launched their new Walking with Nature campaign to help us ease our anxieties and improve our happiness and life satisfaction.

A ten minute walk can relieve the symptoms of stress and anxiety to the same extent as a 45 minute workout. Other studies suggest that walking can make you more creative, alleviate depression, increase the size of your brain, reduce the risk of stroke and even lower the risk of death by 39% compared to taking no exercise. Also, it gives you the excuse to buy new trainers. The online campaign hub at pathsforall.org.uk/lets-walk-oncea-day-this-winter is designed to help people understand how to connect and enjoy nature whilst providing a variety of ideas, activities and information designed to motivate everyone to get outdoors. You can also find out about local woodland walks in the shire, National Trust for Scotland estate walks and local parks in the city at aberdeenshire.gov.uk/media/8778/ woodlandwalks170409.pdf, nts. org.uk and aberdeencity.gov.uk/ services/leisure-culture-and-parks/ parks-and-gardens respectively.

f us any o vels of m , w e o L n Right tty fed up. ssion have e e . r r p p de are ountr y ty and cross the c 10,000 ie x n a r sed a t in you increa cult to get the longes n n iffi e e d e h ’s w It is betw a day steps y you make cupboard e e journ esk and th are kept. your d the biscuits where

In 2019, a study by researchers at the University of Exeter showed that spending just two hours a week in nature had tremendous benefits for overall health and wellbeing. Don’t think you need to have access to the hills or the countryside to benefit either, as the researchers found that beaches, urban parks or green spaces were just as effective as majestic mountains or rural views.

DR JENNIFER SUDDER (MBChB MRCGP Dffp Dip Nutr Med MFHom) As an experienced member of the Royal College of General Practitioners & the Faculty of Homeopathy Dr Sudder helps her patients get better naturally. With qualifications in nutritional medicine, hypnotherapy & homeopathy, the clinic promotes a healthy lifestyle & nutrition as the foundation to health. Building on the success of last year’s virtual clinics these are being developed in 2021, bringing quality care clearly into your home. •Bowel issues •Insomnia •Teenage health

•Female health •Anxiety •Stress

jennifer@promoting-health.co.uk www.promoting-health.co.uk

A range of outstanding products, including fragrances, home scents, makeup & more

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IMPLANT TRaining scheme A

ndrew Scott Dental Care has become an official training centre for qualified dentists studying for the postgraduate MSc in -Clinical Implantology at the University of Central Lancashire. This means that we are mentoring fully qualified dentists in treatment planning, placing and restoring dental implants. It’s a way of giving suitable patients the chance to benefit from implants at a considerably reduced cost. As a result of this new programme, we’re now looking for candidates to receive dental implants placed and restored under direct supervision by Dr Andrew Scott at our multi awardwinning state of the art practice in Aberdeen’s West End. Andrew has over 20 years of experience in placing and restoring dental implants. Not all clients would be suitable candidates as there are certain criteria for the case to be met. However, the initial consultation would be free and we would certainly be able to advise you of your situation and options. Should you be unsuitable to be considered as

a candidate for this opportunity, we can still offer you dental implant treatment at a reduced fee from our usual costs at Andrew Scott Dental Care and in this case the treatment would be carried out by Andrew personally.

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For details please contact us at info@andrewscottdental.co.uk Clients who are treated on the course would be charged a fee of £1500 to include treatment planning, any radiographic assessment required, placement of a dental implant and a crown for the implant. This is a saving of over £1000 per implant on our usual prices.

For birthdays, Mother's Day or just to show you care.

If you are interested in being a candidate for this opportunity then please email us at the address below where you can arrange a consultation or ask further questions. 15A Victoria Street, AB10 1XB Tel: 01224 806700 Email: info@andrewscottdental.co.uk andrewscottdental.co.uk

115 Holburn Street Aberdeen, AB10 6BQ T: +44 (0)1224 585150 countryways.com

16 | BEAUTY

‘discover new favourites when you can’t browse the counters...’

BEAUTY | 17

SUBSCRIPTION BOXES

Give yourself a treat

f you love discovering new beauty products, then a subscription box may be the perfect little treat. There are boxes out there to suit every skin and every type of product you could desire. Boxes come with a carefully curated selection of products, often in a mix of sample and full sizes that are, generally, priced well below the value of the contents if bought separately. It’s a great way to discover new favourites when you can’t browse the counters in your favourite department store. The packaging tends to be luxurious, so it feels like you’re giving yourself a bit of a gift whenever your monthly or quarterly box arrives in the mail. It’s often possible to buy a stand-alone box if you don’t want to sign up to a monthly plan, so you could try a few different services out before deciding on which service suits you best. Several subscription boxes come with online bonuses. You might have access to a make-up tutorial or the box may include a discount voucher for a Zoom workshop. Online beauty retailer Look Fantastic (lookfantastic. com) offer a monthly box which comes with five or six new things to try, across skincare, hair and cosmetics, as well as a useful mini-magazine that provides more details about the products included and how to get the best results from them. A three month subscription costs £43.50 and most month’s the box will contain around £50 worth of products each month. You’ll also find special limited edition boxes that can save you a small fortune in there’s one with your favourite brand. Gloosybox’s subscription services offers five new products full-sized each month, with the

first month’s box on offer for £12. It’s a bit of a thrill when one arrives in the post and you get to lift the lid, untie the ribbon and tear open the tissue paper. Glossybox is particularly strong on high end niche skincare brands that you might not otherwise encounter. They also offer limited edition collaborations with brands like Fenty and have a men’s grooming box for £30 that includes £155 worth of products, though this tends to sell out quickly. If you prefer natural and organic products, then The Natural Beauty Box (thenaturalbeautybox. co.uk) may be just what you’re looking for. Each box contains 5-7 items, all vegan and cruelty-free at a monthly subscription rate of £23. Products tend to be a mix of sample sizes and full sizes, but will always be worth over £50. It’s not just cosmetics and skincare products that you can subscribe to. There are plenty of perfume subscription boxes to choose from too. Given that you can’t really sniff tester strips while masked up, it’s a good way of looking for your next signature scent without making an expensive mistake. The Perfume Shop offer their Parfumado service for £12.95 a month, which gets you a little pocket spray case with a new sample from your choice of 350 scents. Each 8ml sample is said to be enough for four sprays a day for 30 days and if you buy a full sized bottle, they’ll offer a discount. (theperfumeshop.com/subscribe). Bloom Perfume (bloomperfume.co.uk) offer 72 niche scent samples over the course of a year for £180 while Sniph.co.uk and Scentandco.uk all offer similar monthly delivery boxes.

18 | ADVERTISEMENTS

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Stand out from the crowd with wearable fashion full of personality & colour

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bentleys-banchory.co.uk Opening hours 9-30am to 5-30pm, Monday-Saturday

32-36 High Street, Banchory Tel. 01330 825655

FASHION | 21

Take it easy with fluid shapes and relaxed silhouettes this spring.

22 | FASHION

A neutral palette in latte, milk and coffee shades lends a pleasing elegance

24 | FASHION

Peasant styles are making a comeback. Look for ditsy prints, tiers and puffy sleeves

BLOOM | 25

FASHION | 27

Colour block with contrasting colours for drama or go big on prints. Strike a pose and spring is sorted.

ow that spring is upon us, it’s time to invest in a trench coat. The style has evolved through the past century and a half, but the combination of practicality and good looks means it never goes out of style. The big names are Burberry and Aquascutum, both of whom offered trench coats designed for officers in WW1 and still produce classic trench coats today. Look for wide lapels, a belted double breasted cut fastened with buttons, and raglan sleeves. Some forms of the coat, such as the Australian Driza-Bone brand, have kept the original shoulder cape, but in many modern versions, this has been reduced to a storm flap. The trench became chic in the 1960s, favoured by Jane Birkin and took a starring role when worn by Catherine Deneuve in the Umbrellas of Cherbourg and the iconic Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. It’s an extremely versatile garment, working equally well with jeans and a t-shirt or over a dress or business suit. Look for a water-resistant fabric in beige or stone if you want to keep it classic. More expensive versions come with cosy detachable linings which make it a three season garment, taking you through from spring to the start of winter. Stick with a classic Burberry trench and you could still be wearing it in twenty years’ time yet still look on trend. Alternatively, you can make more of style statement this season by opting for a pastel version, going luxe with a leather trench or even stepping into spring in a floral version.

ADVERTISEMENTS | 31

We asked Matthew Finnie, of Finnies the Jeweller what to look for when buying a watch…

Watches are about more than just telling the time. Watches are luxury items and the way we select them is similar to the way we might choose a car, or a new mobile phone. It’s down to the aesthetic, how it looks, how it feels and most importantly how it makes us feel when wearing it. The difference is that a classic watch will retain its good looks, functionality and appeal far longer than the latest iPhone. Classic watches are often passed from one generation to the next, retaining their value for decades to come. Start with the practical considerations of size and shape. Would you prefer a round watch, square, rectangular or tonneau dial? This decision is often driven by how it looks and feels on the wrist so actually trying the watch on is crucial. Next, consider where and when you will wear it. Do you need a chronograph or a waterproof diver’s watch? Do you prefer a metal bracelet or a leather strap? What colour of watch would you prefer? Is the type of movement important? There are automatic, quartz and kinetic movements, as well as traditional handwound movements, all with their own practical considerations. While the purist will often want a mechanical movement, this decision can come down to whether you are happy to wind your watch regularly or just set it and forget it. How much do you want to spend? If not set then this will be informed by other choices, so an 18ct solid gold watch will be more expensive than the equivalent in steel, likewise when considering two otherwise identical timepieces, the one housing a mechanical movement is normally going to be priced higher than its quartz alternative. In general, the greater the number of functions, the more complicated the movement and the more expensive and exclusive a watch becomes. The most

complicated watch in the world, the Aeternitas Mega 4 from Franck Muller, has 1483 components including a renewable calendar that needs adjusted just once in every thousand years. It costs $2.7 million! Certain watches cost more to buy than others. At the less expensive end of the market, there are very popular watches produced by well known names such as Gucci which are great watches, but their design and construction is primarily about fashion and achieving a particular price point. At the other end of the market the look remains important however the price, and intrinsic value, is driven by not only the materials used, but also the exceptional level of expertise required to produce the individual components that are then assembled to create the final piece. Classic watches are often relatively simple in appearance and avoid the use of flamboyant colours and complicated movements. Look for names such as Longines, Cartier, Frederique Constant and Omega. Tudor, the sister brand of Rolex, offer high quality timepieces too. For me, watchmaking in its purest form is a beautiful thing, and its history is filled with artisans who have spent a lifetime learning and refining their craft to become masters of their trade. I could recommend a ‘sporty’ watch for everyday and a ‘classic’ watch for more formal occasions, but to start with, investing in the best quality piece you can afford will stand you in good stead. My personal suggestions to consider when making that first purchase would be the IWC Portugieser, the Omega Seamaster or a Cartier Tank Francaise, all of which are practical classics with an enduring appeal.

If you want a fine dining experience at home, but you don’t know which end of a whisk you’re meant to hold, fear not! One of the few bright spots to have come out of the past year is that many leading restaurants now offer heat@home kits for delivery or collection. It means you don’t need to go further than the front door to sample signature dishes from some of the best restaurants in the country.

FOOD | 33

We’ve rounded up a few favourites from local restaurants and those from further afield.

If fish floats your boat, try Rick Stein at Home rickstein.com. You’ll find a selection of seven seasonal recipe boxes, each offering three courses. Chose from lobster, sea bass, hake or go for an Indonesian curry, steak or a veggie menu. Prices range from £40 to £140. You can also opt for a breakfast box filled with artisan bacon, sausages, hog’s pudding, eggs, sourdough bread, butter, coffee and jam or marmalade for £35.

You can keep it local at The Seafood Bothy in Stonehaven. The seafood is landed from their own boat and cooked up in their new expanded bothy on the pier head. It’s difficult to beat for freshness and is a good way of supporting the local fishing industry which is hampered by export red tape. Collections only for now, but you can check what’s on offer at Facebook.com/seafoodbothy.

St. Andrews Haar restaurant, run by Masterchef the Professionals finalist Dean Banks, has managed to bring most of the kitchen staff back from furlough thanks to their Haar at Home boxes. You can choose from guest chef boxes with four courses for two people, or a five course tasting menu at £99.95. There are also kits for making your own dishes such as oak-smoked langoustine linguini and a fair selection of extras like fresh baked bread and a chocolate ganache tart with salted caramel. It’s not really geared for vegetarians or vegans though. Check out the menu at haarathome.co.uk

Staying south of the city, The Stack Restaurant in Muchalls offers a boxed takeaway selection and heat@home menus for collection. They often have special menus for events such as Mother’s Day and also theme menus. The first one for March is packed with Spanish delicacies. If you prefer the take-away menu, you’ll find choices like mouth-watering spring rolls with local crab, Korean BBQ wings, a great black bean burger and their rather special smoked chocolate brownie. Find out more at thestackrestaurant.com/ take-away-menu/

34 | FOOD

Home-X.com offers heat at home boxes from a range of restaurants. Six by Nico’s four course menu for two is inspired by a different place each month, with Bangkok, the Hebrides and Tuscany featured so far. At £60, the box is great value and comes with a bottle of wine too. You’ll also find an eight course vegan sharing menu from Green Haus or a chateaubriand, plus sides, dessert and wine for £70.

210 Bistro, on Market Street near Union Square have extremely popular themed heat@home menus. They offered a French/ Scottish fusion menu for the Six Nations match and will have something special planned for Mother’s Day. They also have vegetarian versions of their menus. Find out what’s on next on their radar at 210bistro.com

Udny Green’s Eat On The Green does a set menu every weekend. Special occasion menus tend to sell out quickly, so book well in advance if possible. They can cater for full vegan, fully vegetarian, fully gluten free or fully dairy free set menus for two on request and the food is for collection only. Check it out at eatonthegreen.co.uk

ASK THE CHEF | 35

Eat on the Green’s Craig Wilson is looking forward to spring Spring is my favourite season. A time for new beginnings, longer, lighter days, buds in bloom and life in the land again, as farmers plant their crops and fresh vegetables and fruits are at their best. Cooking with seasonal ingredients is a sure fire way to inject as much flavour, and goodness, into dishes. Asparagus, peas, broad beans, spring onions, green beans, radishes, cherries, gooseberries and rhubarb are all in season as we come into March and April. Rich in vitamins and minerals, asparagus is one of my favourite ingredients to use. It’s fabulous in risottos, delicious with salmon or chicken and tastes amazing, even with the minimum preparation. Try it steamed or oven roasted with a drizzle of rapeseed oil, salt and pepper-beautiful!

For a peppery zing in salads, radishes are lovely, whilst peas and broad beans go well in a creamy risotto or together with leeks and asparagus in a primavera sauce for pasta. Spring lamb will also be in season and is a real treat for a special Easter Sunday lunch. I love cooking with lamb loin, it’s such a tender cut and must be served pink. Rhubarb is very easy to grow at home, it needs sunshine and moist, not waterlogged soil and I actually grow it in my own garden. Stewed rhubarb and custard is a classic combination. Try topping stewed rhubarb with some Greek yoghurt and add granola for breakfast. However, nothing can beat the old favourite, crumble! Whatever your choice, we’ve plenty of great ingredients to enjoy this spring.

36 | IN-BRIEF

IT specialist Alto set for further expansion

A local IT firm has significantly increased its headcount in the past year and looks set to provide additional jobs in 2021. Aberdeen-based Alto, which is now solely owned by CEO Bruce Skinner, has expanded its team to 11 members of staff after experiencing a sharp upturn in demand for services throughout last year.

New exhibition showcases Scotland furniture makers Some of the country’s leading furniture makers are showcasing their work in a new online exhibition marking twenty years of the Scottish Furniture Makers Association. Adjust/Adapt runs from March 27th to April 24th and can be viewed at scottishfurnituremakers.org.uk The digital exhibition explores how our homes and outdoor spaces are working harder for occupants as multigenerational sanctuaries, workspaces, classrooms, fitness and entertainment settings.

Alto was founded in 2009 and employs a team of experienced IT consultants who are based in the North East and who are able to react quickly to the needs of a growing portfolio of clients throughout the UK, and in Canada, Italy, France, Spain and the Philippines. To find out more, visit itsalto.com

Good design speaks volumes & drives business to your door. Whether it’s brand identity, marketing material, manuals, advertising, report layouts or magazines, we can help you!

CONTACT OUR DESIGN TEAM info@trendmagazine.co.uk Tel. 01224 596223

Celebrate a special occasion, milestone birthday or anniversary with a menu created just for you

he Kilted Chef Dine at Home package is a bespoke service from Craig Wilson. Craig will call you to discuss your food heaven, cater for any dietary requirements and design a tailor-made, seven course dinner for two. Enjoy award-winning restaurant cuisine in the comfort of your own home, and let our food make your magical moments, even more memorable. All food is cold packed with clear reheating instructions inside. To make an enquiry email craig.wilson@kiltedchef.co.uk Packages start from £150 for two people with an optional wine or drinks pairing for £50. Eat From the Green takeaway is also available for prepaid collection every Saturday, a five-course dinner for two for £59, visit eotg.chefit.app/checkout, to view the menu and book a slot.

very year we ask our mothers what they would like and every year we’re told that they don’t really want or need anything. This year, Mother’s Day falls on Sunday 14 March and it looks like Mother’s Day gifts won’t be considered essential shopping. Unless your Mum will be happy with something from the supermarket, a bit of advance planning may be required, especially if a socially distanced visit is still not allowed. Luckily, we’ve lined up some ideas for all sorts of Mums, from the rebel to the pampering princess…

CITRON calling

Spiral Supports Next-Gen Sports Stars

Ingredients: Gin | Fino Sherry | Buddha’s Hand | Lemon Verbena Domaine De Canton | Bitters Created by Charlie Wilson one of the head bartenders in Orchid, Citron Calling is a rift on the classic London Calling, a perfect after work tipple or palate cleanser before dinner. Available to be delivered directly to your home. orchidcocktails.com

Spiral Services, Aberdeen-based provider of standard and bespoke bulk handling systems for screw conveyor and pressure vessel packages, is not only committed to supporting the oil and gas industry, but also the local community in which it operates - especially its youngest members. Recently, they have created quite a buzz by donating sport kits to the Middlefield WASPs 2011s football team. And what a team it is, Spiral hopes that Scotland manager Steve Clarke and the national team are prepared - a new generation is coming their way! Football is not the only sport Spiral Services is supporting this year. The company is also a proud sponsor of Ricky Barrack, an 8-year-old Scottish motocross racer, who in his short career has won several national championships, most recently the 2020 Cumbria MX Auto Championship. Go Ricky #76! Let’s hope 2021 brings even more success, and most importantly fun, to all the young athletes!

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FINANCIAL PLANNING SPECIALISTS

VT WEALTH’S TOP TIPS FOR FINANCIAL WELLBEING IN 2021 We are all well versed in the saying 'fail to plan, plan to fail'... yet it doesn’t seem to stop the large percentage of us not quite getting around to financial planning. We get it, life, pandemics, recessions and homeschooling get in the way! But with wellbeing, self care and survival at the forefront of most people’s minds at the start of this new year, we wanted to help you focus in on gaining financial wellbeing and share some simple top tips.

UNCERTAINTY IS NO REASON TO AVOID INVESTING - Events are unpredictable at the best

USE IT OR LOSE IT - Did you know you have a

of times - nobody predicted the pandemic for example! However, the best investors don’t seek to time the market by forecasting (or reacting to) short-term events. Rather, they know that uncertainty is par for the course and so they adopt principles for the long term. maximum annual ISA investment allowance of £20,000? Every individual is also allowed to receive £2,000 of dividend income annually without paying tax on it and you can ‘gift’ £3,000 a year tax-free - these need to be used by the 05/04/21!

KEEP CASH FOR EMERGENCIES - By having

an emergency fund set aside you can gain some peace of mind that should it be needed, it’s there. An MOT bill to the washing machine or boiler breaking down to finding yourself in a situation where you are made redundant or split from a partner can mean paying out a large sum of money.

5 6

REDUNDANCY - If you have found yourself in

this unfortunate situation, seek professional financial advice. There are a number of things to be aware of and consider with redundancy (some of which you can find out too late to do anything about). Gaining advice at the outset can help you feel more secure about your future plans, give you food for thought, tailored options, choices and control.

DON’T SPEND MORE THAN YOU EARN Regular saving isn’t likely to happen if you spend everything you earn, so try reducing your expenses and outgoings. Getting into the habit of saving smaller amounts regularly can also be more successful than saving big chunks intermittently.

REVIEW YOUR FINANCES - Financial Advisers aren’t just for the rich and uber-wealthy. A great adviser will take the time to understand your goals, aspirations and dreams and work with you to form a strategic plan to provide tailored, forward-thinking and considered choices to help you make the most of your hard-earned money.

The value of an investment with St. James's Place will be directly linked to the performance of the funds selected and may fall as well as rise. You may get back less than the amount invested. The levels and bases of taxation, and reliefs from taxation, can change at any time and are generally dependent on individual circumstances.

At VT Wealth, our genuine passion to help our clients achieve Financial Wellbeing whilst protecting the things that matter to them the most, is what we do best. At VT Wealth, we can help you on your journey to Financial Wellbeing. Give us a call to chat things over, or book in a no-obligation full Financial Review with one of our friendly Financial Planning Specialists. Call us on 07736 397671, email us at vtweath@sjpp.co.uk or visit us at vtwealth.co.uk VT Wealth Management Ltd is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. James’s Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) for the purpose of advising solely on the group’s wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out on the group’s website www.sjp.co.uk/products. VT Wealth is a trading name of VT Wealth Management Ltd.

The Royal Northern & University Club

A warm welcome and so much more

he Royal Northern & University Club has been part of the very fabric of the city for over 150 years, yet many of us have no idea of what lies beyond the entrance portico of the substantial granite premises on Albyn Place. The club goes back a long way, being founded in 1854, but has a modern outlook, superb facilities and is genuinely welcoming. Rather than the musty Victorian relic that TV and films might lead us to expect, you’ll find a lively, entertaining group of people from all walks of life. Nor is the club the preserve of elderly gents gently snoozing in leather armchairs. There are Members in their twenties and women have been admitted to membership since 2017. It’s a place of friendship, with a true sense of companionship that’s increasingly valuable in an online world. There are over fifteen club groups with interests ranging from cherished cars

to film and theatre and gardening to golf and a full-sized snooker table available to Members. The club is known for the excellence of its food, from hearty breakfasts to traditional dinners, fine dining and inventive vegetarian options. There are conference and meeting facilities available to hire and ten bedrooms offering superb accommodation. The club also has reciprocal arrangements with over 130 other clubs, from Helsinki to New Zealand, not to mention many of the fabulous London clubs, meaning you feel at home wherever you are in the world. Membership is by nomination and open to those over 21. For further information about membership or the facilities the Club has to offer, please contact Aidan McAleese, Club Secretary on 01224 583292, or secretary@rnuc.org.uk

9 Albyn Place, AB10 1YE rnuc.org.uk

Julie Clark-Spence

The balfour + manson Aberdeen team prides itself in supporting clients through the entire process of any personal injury, medical negligence, employment or family law claim

Kirsten Knight

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We understand that no two cases are the same and offer a personal service tailored to individual clients during what are undoubtedly difficult and traumatic times in their lives. The Aberdeen team continues to grow from strength to strength. We also offer Private client and property services. We can provide advice on a range of matters including: + + + + +

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INTERIORS | 45

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Home schooling and working from home has highlighted the need for flexible, family friendly living areas. Look for robust designs that can withstand repeated collisions with toys and that offer wipe clean surfaces. Family rooms need a big squishy sofa, plenty of storage for toys, a table and chairs that works equally well for family meals, work and studying and as somewhere to veg out in front of Disney+. Loose covers or washable cushions make sense. Dark colours are more practical, but brighten the space up with colourful prints, framed kids’ artwork or a family photo portrait. Decent broadband and plenty of power sockets help keep the peace. Here’s our pick…

01 © Furniture & Choice / 02 © Cuckooland / 03 © Kitchen Craft / 04 © Furniture & Choice / 05 © Cox Coxe / 06 Danetti / 07 © Danetti 08 © Cuckooland / 09 © Bazaar Group Ltd / 10 © Garden trading / 11 © Swoon Editions / 12 © Red Candy

46 | GARDENS

The success of any garden design relies on the underlying structure. Kirsty McLean explains how to get the most from your space…

GARDENS | 47

tructure is created by exploring and understanding function. By observing where the sun falls throughout the day, you can work out where to put your seating area. Practical elements, like a rotary dryer are best positioned near the kitchen or utility room door for ease of access, while you may want to tuck your shed in a shady corner at the bottom of the garden. The next design stage is to lay out paths so you can travel easily from one area to the next. This establishes the framework onto which you can hang vertical and horizontal layers of texture and interest, especially through the planting. Well-considered planting can create enclosure, intrigue, focal points, atmosphere and all year-round interest. Hedges are an excellent way to create enclosure, division or screening and a much more natural solution than a fence. Conifer hedging is popular because it grows quickly. This can also become a problem when they grow out of control. Yew is also evergreen but slow growing and very hardy. For winter interest, Cotoneaster (Simonsii/Franchetii or Lacteus) is evergreen and has wonderful red berries. Deciduous beech often hangs onto its russet leaves over winter and makes for an excellent hedge in most situations. All hedging is good for wildlife but if your aim is to attract as much biodiversity as possible then look at mixed hedges, grown using native species such as hawthorn, blackthorn, buckthorn, alder and beech.

48 | GARDENS

Small hedges such as box hedging can be used to frame borders, making the border look neat and tidy all year round or for making patterns, dividing planting beds and creating shapes. Weeping or ornamental trees can be positioned to draw your eye, or symmetry planting either side of a set of steps can be used to create a focal point. Planting grasses in a striking planter on a plinth also creates interest. When choosing trees it is important to consider their growth habit (height, spread and root growth) and position. Don’t plant a large variety of willow next to the foundations of your house as it has invasive roots. The same tree would be perfect for weeping over a large pond out in the open. Similarly, the large surface roots of a flowering cherry means it works better in a border, rather than the middle of a lawn. There are plenty of trees that work well in small to medium gardens. Rowans such as Sorbus Vilmorinii or Sorbus Cashmiriana look great. Prunus Serrula, (Tibetan Cherry) Laburnum Watereri, Crataegus – ‘Pauls Scarlet’ (Hawthorn), Malus ‘Sun rival’ or Acer Palmatum ‘Bloodgood’ are all stunning. For shape and evergreen interest, take a look at Golden Irish Yew, Abies Koreana or perhaps a dwarf cedar like

Cedrus Deodara Feelin’ Blue. One of my favourite weeping trees is the small crab apple Malus Pendula ‘Royal Beauty’. It’s good for town gardens as it is pollution tolerant. The wine-coloured blossom, purple-green foliage and tiny red crab apples provide interest from spring to autumn. If you want a weeping evergreen, then try Cotoneaster Hybridus Pendulus. For larger gardens the list of trees available to you is endless! A great planting scheme not only looks at structure, heights, variety and colours but textures too and this can be created by using colours and shapes against each other. One of my favourite combinations from last season was Carex Testacea grasses with Sanguisorba officinalis ‘Tanna’ or Golden Bamboo (be careful which variety of bamboo you choose, some are incredibly vigorous and their roots will grow through paving stones!) with Phormium ‘Cream Delight’. As tempting it is to pick up a single plant, shrub or tree from the garden centre because you fall in love with it and stick it in the garden without real knowledge of its final height and preferred position (shade, sun, wet dry conditions etc), the success of both garden and planting design is structure and that takes thought, planning and research - not to mention a good dose of passion for the subject!

IN-BRIEF | 49

St. Margaret’s gear up for 175th Anniversary As part of the forthcoming celebrations the school will launch a history timeline looking back over the school’s main achievements and changes since being founded in 1846. They are also preparing an online archive of photos, documents and artefacts relating to the school, former pupils and teachers.

St. Margaret’s is also running a series of webinars entitled 175 Years of Inspiring Women, where inspirational women share their stories. Find out more at st-margaret.aberdeen.sch.uk

Callum Bruce joins Carbon Neutral Energy as non-executive director Hybrid power solutions company, Carbon neutral Energy (CNE), has appointed Callum Bruce as its first non-executive director. Previously Chief Executive of North Star Shipping, Mr Bruce was responsible for the growth and operation of its fleet of offshore support and emergency response and rescue vessels. CNE is aiming to attract £300 million in investment to further develop and roll-out its products to meet the growing challenge of storing and using electricity produced from renewable sources. The company’s

range of modular, mobile energy storage systems with large battery capacity can store and deliver significant green power capacity to address the current inadequacy in the UK’s power infrastructure. Chairman and interim chief executive of CNE, Mark Patterson, commented, ‘Callum’s extensive experience of the shipping and marine sectors will be invaluable as we look to tap into this market. We’re thrilled that he’s joining the team and looking forward to working with him to grow the business.’

Aberdeenshire’s extraordinary conwoman

Later, Newbond fled the country before he could be tried for the brutal rape of another young woman. Kate worked as a washerwoman, living in the direst poverty. She gave birth to Annie at Maiden Street, though the birth went unrecorded in the parish register. Annie’s mother eventually took up with an itinerant salesman named Sutherland.

The most notorious female fraudster of the Victorian age was born in 1848 in Peterhead. Her mother, Kate Reid was a household servant at the farm at Wester Barnyards near Clola. The father was the farmer, John Newbond. He denied fathering the child and threw the poor pregnant Kate out to fend for herself.

Annie grew into a great beauty. She also had a phenomenal memory but no formal education. In her teens, she professed a deep commitment to evangelical Christianity and began to preach and raise money for various Church denominations. Most of the funds raised, she kept. Before long she moved to Dundee and Edinburgh and became a very popular speaker organising charitable events. She frequently obtained goods on credit which she never repaid. Her good looks and charisma helped her to escape unscathed. As her ambitions grew, she forged introductions from Scottish churchmen which she used to increase her influence. In 1871, she moved to London where she stepped up her fund raising and set up fraudulent bank accounts to finance the luxurious lifestyle she craved. Upon her release, she caught the eye of an immensely wealthy retired naval officer twice her age who provided her with all the money and property she could want. It was not enough for Annie. She compulsively swindled everyone from cab drivers to grocers, no sum was too small for her criminal attentions. For a time, it appeared that Annie had settled down when she married Knight Aston, a rising star in the world of comic opera. The couple had

three children. When Aston became aware of her criminal past, he pursued her with a pistol and the marriage was dissolved.

Annie then became deeply involved in the cause of the crofters being forced off the land on the Isle of Skye in 1884. She took to public speaking on their behalf, raising funds to assist crofters to emigrate to New Zealand and Australia. At the same time, passing herself off as the daughter of the Earl of Moray, she took money from the landowners to clear the crofters off the land. She came within a whisker of being granted many thousands of acres in Australia and New Zealand even without a penny to her name. She failed only due to her inability to renounce petty fraud which tarnished her reputation and resulted in the failure of the schemes. She continued her career of epic frauds and in 1888 she was sentenced to five years for obtaining money by false pretences. In 1894, she received a 10-year sentence for stealing pictures after which she disappeared to America and obscurity. What became of her children is not known as they had many different names. Annie herself used over 40 aliases during her career. It’s believed that about 80% of her crimes went undiscovered. If you’d like to know more about Annie’s exploits, Mick Davies and David Lassman have just released The Adventures of a Victorian Con Woman which is published by Pen & Sword. The authors would also be interested in knowing what happened to all four of Annie’s children.

TRAVEL | 53

This year’s sunshine summer holidays are looking pretty uncertain, particularly if you’re stuck in an isolation hotel when you get there and again when you return.

Spending a fortnight confined to a room in a Travelodge at Heathrow isn’t anyone’s dream destination. So maybe now’s the time to support our own tourism industry and take to a tent or glamping pod? Camping is not for everyone. If you pack nine pairs of shoes for a long weekend and the idea of a shower block makes you break out in hives, then taking off into the wilds with a giant backpack

isn’t going to help you relax and appreciate the wonders of nature. Leave eating beans from a can and wiping your bottom on dock leaves to Bear Grylls. Holidays shouldn’t be about mere survival, so you need something with Wi-Fi, a hot tub, a decent view and an ice-bucket for the champagne. Choose a pod, a yurt or a giant bell tent. Here are a few of our picks…

TOMATIN GLAMPING PODS These wooden glamping pods get rave reviews for the view and the well-equipped facilities including a BBQ and satellite channels. The pods sleep up to four people, but may be best suited for a getaway as a couple. In good weather, the drive through Deeside and out on the Cockbridge to Tomintoul road is pleasingly scenic and you can do a little shopping or stop in Ballater for lunch. Aviemore offers plenty for families to do, including a visit to the Highland Wildlife Park at Kincraig, osprey viewing at Boat of Garten, or, more for adults, a tour of Tomatin Distillery.

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Achmelvich beach

NORTH COAST 500 PODS

SANDHAVEN DOOR TO THE SHORE

Over on the west coast at Achmelvich, these pods offer a superb sea view, a two minute toddle down to the white sands of Achmelvich beach and a great stopping off point if you’re tackling the North Coast 500 road trip. The location may look remote on the map, but they still have Alexa and Netflix as well as free Wi-Fi, so if you do take the kids, they’ll not moan about medieval conditions.

Sandhaven has the merit of being very close to home, being about 50 miles north of the city, between Fraserburgh and Rosehearty. It also has some picturesque traditional fishermen’s cottages that nestle end on to the sea.

Achmelvich is a popular spot on sunny days, particularly with kayakers and fishing enthusiasts. There are some superb walks, lots of wildlife to spot and hiking up Suilven could leave you breathless at the grandeur of the views, or just the effort of getting up the slope when you’ve been stuck in for months.

Door to the Shore is a cosy camping pod complete with fire pit and a white picket fence. Open the gate and you find yourself on the rocky shoreline. If you pre-book, you can go cycling, play tennis, fish, try snorkelling or canoeing or even go windsurfing, go dolphin spotting or just visit the many small towns and villages that dot the Moray coast. It’s a great base for a weekend pottering round antique shops or just exploring rock pools. There are some superbcafes and fish and chip shops dotted along the coast.

Check what’s open before making a booking, as we have no idea what will be happening.

GREAT GLEN YURTS

ROULOTTE RETREAT

How about an authentic Mongolian Yurt? These Lastly, one for the incurable romantics. Roulotte are big enough to sleep five people in Retreat has a small collection of comfort, so you can take the kids handcrafted French roulottes, or too. The yurts are remarkably gypsy caravans. They are sited SKYE ECO BELLS cosy and thoughtfully in a wildflower meadow furnished with double round the edge of a This is a great option if beds, sheepskin rugs, small lake and combine you want a tent rather than a pod lanterns, midge nets and simplicity with a touch for your glamping adventure. It’s everything you might of luxury in the form of an ecoglamping site with sea views, need for your stay. a wood-fired hot tub. fire pits and a moorland setting. It’s Each is decorated in rich also off grid, so there’s no electricity The location, on an colours and sumptuous or wi-fi and phone coverage is organic farm at the foot fabrics. There are plenty patchy. Perfect if you need to of Ben Nevis, is perfect of walks through the Eildon get away from everything or for adventure loving Hills, cycling, bird watching, rediscover each other. families. There are plenty of or you can book massages, opportunities for hiking, golfing, hire bicycles or arrange horse climbing or fishing as well as horse riding sessions. At 3 miles from riding. Plan ahead and you can take a boat Melrose, the site is far enough from town trip to visit the islands of Eigg, Muck and Rum, to feel immersed in nature, but close enough to spot eagles, dolphins and seals or try paddle take advantage of local shops and restaurants. boarding or sea kayaking.

56 | KIDS

on’t have the previous d s id k , s y a d e s Thes y to run wild a street is pretty it n u rt o p p o e m e sa . Playing in th ids generations diden art and the days when kre much a forgottntil it was time for dinner a disappeared u ildren aren’t allowed out to over. Many ch ised and if they are, play unsuperv h more restricted they have mucs. roaming area

hink back and Enid Blyton’s twelve year olds were heading off to uninhabited islands armed with their dog, some ham sandwiches and a couple of tents for the entire summer holidays.

Playdates and endless activities mean that, if you’re a child, learning more about the world around you is more structured and constantly supervised now. That’s why outdoor adventures are such an

KIDS | 57

important part of growing up. It’s a chance to explore nature, pick up new skills and just have fun. Here’s our selection of the best places for running wild. Remember to check whether they are open before heading out and stay within the current COVID guidelines about travel and meeting up with other households. Some have car parks, toilet facilities and cafes. North of the city, Bennachie Visitor Centre is the ideal starting point for a hike up to the top of the hill and one of its nine summits. Older kids and fitter adults can follow the Mither Tap Timeline Trail, which takes you back through history to explore the Pictish hill fort. It takes around 3 hours and is steep and slippery in places. If you’d prefer a gentler outing, then the Discovery Trail takes around 30 minutes on gentle, firm pathways that are also suitable for wheelchair users. Keep an eye out for red squirrels and do a bit of bird spotting.

Drum Castle at Drumoak offers wooded walks, with many oak trees that were planted centuries ago to provide timbers for shipping. The woods once stretched from Peterculter to Banchory and served as a royal hunting forest. These days, keen naturalists can spot signs of bats, badgers, foxes, beetles,and squirrels. The Old Woods of Drum are designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Nearer the castle, you can explore the arboretum or head to the woodland play area, with swings, a zip slide, a willow tunnel, and lots of places to build a den. If you’d rather explore in the city, then Hazelhead Park is a good option. The land was gifted to the city by Robert the Bruce in 1319, but passed into private hands before the Town Council bought it back in 1920 for £40,000. There are formal gardens, but it’s the nature trails and bridal paths that will appeal to kids. There’s plenty of space to run around to the point of collapse. You can also visit Hazelhead’s Pets Corner, one of the park’s two golf

courses or the large children’s playground. The Park Café offers a welcome respite with a good selection of food and drinks. If circumstances allow the opportunity to travel further afield, then the Cairngorms offer the perfect setting for a day trip exploring the wilds of nature. Go hillwalking or hiking, follow one of hundreds of walking trails or enjoy an adventure on two wheels at Laggan Wolftrax, which has over 20 miles of purpose-built mountain bike tracks in the Laggan forest. Picnic at Loch an Eilein Castle or head to Abernethy Nature Reserve, home to some of Scotland's most spectacular wildlife, or check out the ospreys at Loch Garten. If your kids love animals, then the Highland Wildlife Park at Kincraig will be a huge hit, with polar bears, lynx, Amur Tigers, Scottish Wildcats and Japanese Macaques. There’s so much to explore right here on our doorsteps, so let the kids run wild and create lasting memories of great family adventures.

58 | GRADUATES

One of the things we most missed last year was the annual Degree Show at Gray’s School of Art. Although there was a virtual degree show, which you can see at graysdegree.show/welcome, we wanted to bring the work of some of the most talented fashion and textile design graduates to a wider audience…

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N at h a n i a D o u g l a s Nathania’s graduate collection was focussed on magnifying the issues around consumption, waste and overproduction in the fashion industry. Starting with an analysis of the piles of clothing on her friends’ bedroom floors and fabric art installations, she worked with unwanted clothing to give a new purpose and appearance. The collect incorporated draped dress shirts combined with natural materials in the form of second hand knitwear. Since graduation, Nathania has moved to Glasgow where she has been working with leading Scottish womenswear and accessories designer Hayley McSporran. This has helped her gain practical experience of production and running a small business. Her graduate collection will be shown at the Edinburgh Charity Fashion Show later this year. You can see more of the collection on Instagram @nathania.douglas or view Nathania’s entire portfolio at artsthread.com/profile/ nathaniadouglas/

Emma Grieshaber Emma Grieshaber’s remarkable collection was nominated for both the bp Design Award and the RGU Art and Heritage 2020 Purchase Award. The Pull to Inflate collection combined Tudor silhouettes with her ex-pilot grandfather’s parachutes and inflatable elements to create something genuinely new, interesting and exciting.

Since graduating, Emma has been working as a freelance designer for a start-up label MODEL CTIZN, which was featured in Italian Vogue and will be seen in British Vogue later this year. Emma was the first 2020 graduate to be chosen by the new label. You can view Emma’s work at artsthread.com/profile/emmagrieshaber/ or buy her designs for MODELCTIZN at modelctizn.com

E m i ly B u r n e l Emily ‘s graduate collection was inspired from her fascination with water in both liquid and solid states, juxtaposing fluidity and rigidity with sculptural layering and a tonal colour scheme. This resulted in a textile collection that gave a nod to Gareth Pugh’s 2014 collection, but drew on biodegradable plastic materials she made herself, to illustrate that such plastics can be used in a positive way. Since graduating, Emily has started her own business. She makes bold jewellery using plastic drinking straws. It is lightweight, flexible and striking. She plans to offer a wider range of accessories and to produce larger custom pieces, donating part of her profits to ecological charities. Each piece is unique and personal to the buyer. You can buy Emily’s work at lilixdesign. com or via Maggie Blyth’s boutique in Inverness. You can see her graduate collection at lilixdesign.wixsite.com/fashionportfolio In time, Emma hopes her work will be able to empower women while working to make her business more diverse and inclusive, breaking gender norms and working with the drag community, making everyone who wears her pieces feel confident, beautiful and brave.

J u l i j a A s ta s o n o k a Julija took the fishing industry as a starting point for her Silver Darlings collection. She spent three years working in the industry before going to Gray’s so it is a sector she knows well. She was particularly fascinated by the role that small wooden fishing boats played in both World Wars, as well as the names of today’s vessels and their colour combinations. Her work uses hand stitched embroidery and crochet, acknowledging the history of amateur craft and a ‘sense of home’ that is involved in hand-knitting traditional fishermen’s jerseys. Following her graduation, Julija is combining freelance design work with an MA in Textiles at Grays and has started Moska, her own design company which specialises in hand-knitted fashion and accessories. These are available from moska-knitwear.co.uk and etsy.com/uk/shop/MoskaKnitwear

Keenan as mustard I STUDIED TEXTILES AT DUNCAN OF JORDANSTONE COLLEGE IN DUNDEE. SINCE GRADUATING, IN 1998, I HAVE ALWAYS WORKED IN RETAIL, HOWEVER, I NEVER DREAMED THAT ONE DAY I WOULD OWN MY OWN SHOP!

became a stylist for Habitat, working in the Kings Road flagship store and head office.

My husband and I moved back to Aberdeen in 2004. After five years as Visuals Commercial Manager at M&S, I left to freelance and look after our growing family of three boys. I realised that I wanted to start creating my own work rather than styling the work of others. I started drawing again and took a screen printing refresher at Peacock Visual Arts. I started to show my work in

2011 and even pulled together one exhibition when my youngest son was just eight days old. I added hand-made lampshades, cushions and luxury scented candles to my range over the next few years. Three years ago we converted our barn into a studio, workshop and exhibition space. It was great until, two days before a NEOS Christmas Pop Up exhibition when the entire barn flooded. I thought ‘Nope, this has broken me, I can’t go on!’ I called all of my fellow exhibitors, and called it off. Later that day, I remembered a beautiful wee shop in the neighbouring village that had a ‘for rent’ hand written sign in the window. The landlord agreed to rent us the space for three days and the show was saved. I loved the space so much that the Old Boot

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makers on Station Road, Maud is now my permanent art home. All of my work starts off with drawings and mark making in everything from pen and ink to tattie prints, preparing them for silk screen printing. I love the element of surprise when a screen is pulled and revealed. Sometimes little accidents take me down a different creative path, giving rise to a new collection. I add layers and textures in a variety of mediums from acrylics to crayon and silver leaf. My inspiration stems from the ever-changing seasonal landscape that surrounds us in Aberdeenshire and the seasonal changes that it brings. Lavender fields, bright yellow rapeseed against a blue sky and the sunflower borders that can

be seen on the edge of fields. I love it all. Driving round the countryside observing these colourful snapshots makes me happy! I spent the first three months of 2020 getting my shop, Jane Keenan Designs @ Hendersons, ready to open. I sell my own work, design-led products from local makers and Frenchic furniture paint. We opened on 6 March but had to close six days later because of the first lockdown. Luckily for me, people developed a craze for painting furniture, so I developed contactless sales from my garage. The shop opened again in July and then we were in lockdown again. I added tea lights and diffusers to my candle range, rebranded my lampshade kits and added screenprinting kits to the range.

My plan is to expand my space within and knock down a few walls to create a bigger shopfloor area. I also want to expand my textiles range and create an inspirational interiors section, complete with a wood burning stove, some beautifully upholstered and painted furniture pieces. I absolutely love my workspace and shop and whether it’s a pot of paint or a one off piece of art work you are after, hopefully there will be something that catches your eye when we re-open for the third time!

Jane Keenan Design @ Hendersons The Square, Station Road, Maud Aberdeenshire, AB42 5LY janekeenandesign.co.uk

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am Cradock combines her role as an Independent Financial Advisor with being the first female chairman of the Royal Northern and University Club. I was born in North Yorkshire to Scottish parents. We came to Aberdeen when I was 3 years old so my childhood memories are of here. My family moved overseas when I was 12 and I attended both the British School in The Hague and St. Margaret's School in Aberdeen. I married Rory, a solicitor, in 2000. I need to keep busy. I’ve worked with Young Enterprise Grampian as a business adviser for Hazlehead Academy and as a board member since 2014. I love the enthusiasm of the students and they have fantastic, innovative ideas. I am also on the board of the John Gordon Charitable Trust, which offers grants and loans to charities in Aberdeen that work to support the local community. I joined the Main Committee of the Royal Northern and University Club in 2018 before becoming Chairman this year. Any spare time I have at the moment is tied up in the process of renovating our new home. We have a great team of tradesmen working on the project. To get away from

it all, I love walking in Glen Muick, ideally followed by catching up with friends over a glass of wine, when we are allowed to socialise again. I’m fortunate in being an eternal optimist. I’d say it’s my best quality and has been crucial in getting through the last year of the pandemic. I would say being a perfectionist is definitely my worst quality! Looking back, it was probably that combination that spurred me into training as an Independent Financial Advisor. I was working as an assistant and really enjoyed the client interaction and the processes around the work. However, I was getting frustrated with some of the advisers who didn't seem to care about their clients or about getting the job done right, first time. My manager asked me if I wanted to be an assistant for the rest of my life and I thought no, I want to be giving advice, so I started taking my professional exams. When you’re young you think you have all the time in the world, but it’s not the case. Don’t put off anything that you can do today and be courageous. The words of Simon Sinek resonate with me, ‘The value of our lives is not determined by what we do for ourselves. The value of our lives is determined by what

we do for others’. That’s partly why I’m involved with the RNUC. The Royal Northern and University Club has a great history - it was founded in 1854 and given its Royal status when Queen Victoria visited the city in 1863. The Club, which has a really welcoming atmosphere, didn’t actually admit women Members until 2017. There was much debate about whether women should be admitted, but the progress since has been amazing to see and being appointed the first female Chairman is testament to that. Obviously, it’s been a difficult time to become Chairman - the club, like all hospitality venues, has been impacted by the pandemic. Our Members have been extremely supportive and that’s where my eternal optimism comes in again. I believe we will come back stronger, not least because that the club offers that basic human connection that is crucial to our wellbeing. That’s why our Club has been around for 167 years and will continue in the future. To find out more about Pam and her work, contact pam.cradock@mchb. co.uk. For information on the RNUC please visit RNUC.org.uk

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