Please do mention Kingswells Community News when responding to advertisers - thank you 1 Kingswells Community News West End - Deeside - Kingswells Issue 11 - 2015 Old Skene Road, Kingswells, Aberdeen, AB15 8QA Tel. 01224 740318 Email. [email protected]www.fourmile.co.uk follow us on facebook Conferencing? Our purpose designed, self-contained multimedia conference suite is the ideal environment to help you realise your business objectives. Packages can be tailored to meet your requirements and includes the use of all our audiovisual equipment, wi-fi, access to our large breakaway room and the usual excellent catering you would expect from the Fourmile House Kingswells. Why not book your conference here today? @ fourmile HOUSE KINGSWELLS successfully introducing local people to local businesses
Transcript
Please do mention Kingswells Community News when responding to advertisers - thank you 1
Our purpose designed, self-contained multimedia conference suite is the ideal environment to help
you realise your business objectives.
Packages can be tailored to meet your requirements and includes the use of all our audiovisual equipment, wi-fi, access to our large breakaway room and the usual excellent catering you would expect from the Fourmile
House Kingswells.
Why not book your conference here today?
@fourmile HOUSE KINGSWELLS
successfully introducing local people to local businesses
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On completion of the feasibility study, the project can move on to the PLANNING stage – which deals with the external appearance of the building. Following the planning process, we apply for BUILDING WARRANT approval, with drawings detailed to meet current regulations. With these drawings, we prepare tender packages, which are sent out to local building contractors to obtain competitive costs.
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February - already...
It is with a heavy heart I finish off this copy of Kingswells Community News. If you read the bottom left you’ll appreciate why.
The Christmas tree went down well this year. It really stood out in it’s prominent position by the shops. Much admired I’m sure. And all of a sudden we are here in February. The month of love - well for some! For those still pursuing their fitness campaign we have the class lists for the Community Centre and Church Hall to help you make the right choices.
Any budding photographers out there? Bucksburn Academy are running a competition - might be worth entering. And, as mentioned in the last magazine if you have an appropriate photograph that you’d like to see on the cover of the magazine then send it in. It does need to be at least 300dpi and sized to fit an A4 Portrait space. The deadlines are above which will guide you to the type of photo we’d require for each edition.
I have a prize sudoku competition for you this issue. A chance to win cash! So why not give it a go. It’s an easy one to get the ball rolling. There is a wee question on the entry form that I would be grateful if you could complete. The deadline is 18 March so plenty time to send it in. If you don’t with to post it then scan it and send it via email or take a photograph of it! Technology is wonderufl.
January was my month of dining out! Started off at the Vietnamese Restaurant on the 5th January, celebrating my cousin arriving for a short holiday in the UK from Australia and catching up with South African friends. Then it was lunch with Ruth at the Fourmile - our usual haunt every quarter! I then had my daughter’s eighteenth celebrations - that in itself lasted a week and involved a Chinese, a Thai, and then Inverness for a bistro meal! So you could say I’ve practically travelled the world already in 2015...
Our next deadline is 20 March for the April/May magazines. So please feel free to send in any articles, or news of events coming up, or Easter Revision classes, or Easter Holiday camps.
A huge thank you to our delivery team ...Bruce, Carol, Gillian, Catherine, Zander & Nicola, Alex, Barrie, Meg, Ian & Pat, Marie, Helen, Wendy, Colleen, Karen, Gillian, Tom, Agnes, Fiona, Rosemary + Aimee
A fond farewellIt was with great sadness I received the news of the sudden death of my friend Julie Lyon. Our paths had crossed five years previous. We had a working relationship. In fact we had a very good working relationship and it would be very fair to say we became good friends.
I was so chuffed to have a hotel and restaurant advertising with me at last! As our relationship grew I got to know more about the Fourmile and Julie and George’s plans. I got to do a lovely spread telling everyone about their new conference facilities and the fabulous 4th Room Lounge.
The biggest challenge Julie gave me was designing an advert for Easter! I could do anything – so I did and pushed their perception. As it turns out she admitted to me just the week before that it was one of her favourites and wanted to use it again. We were both always last minute chasing copy and updating ads for various publications – but, that is when we had lovely banter via text, email and phone. It will be very difficult to pull together a magazine and not think of Julie, I will truly miss her very much. A nicer person you would not meet.
The Kingswells Community News sends condolences to George and the family, the staff at Fourmile House and Ferryhill House Hotel.
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KINGSWELLS COMMUNITY COUNCIL
First of all, a belated Happy New Year to all our readers!
Christmas Tree
Many have commented on the fabulous Christmas tree we had again this year. Our thanks must go the willing volunteers who made this possible – Graeme Thom, Matthew Dunn, Darren Quarmby, Barclay Downie, Jim Stewart, Dean Martin and Davey Reid. Thanks also to Stan McEwan for advising the team.
De Vere Hotel
Given the new drink driving law, some of us may prefer to walk to the new hotel from Kingswells. The quickest route at present is to cross the perimeter road at the park-and-ride traffic lights, take the short path up the side of the road, then turn left on to the tarred footpath into Prime Four. The short path beside the
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Beauty for you for any occasion. Relaxed friendly atmosphere in the
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Invite a couple of friends round to your home, relax, enjoy a glass of fizz and leave the
road is quite muddy, poorly lit, strewn with litter and not very pleasant. However, we are pleased to report that Prime Four has offered to help Aberdeen City Council to improve the path.
Fast Broadband
Some residents lucky enough to have their lines upgraded are reporting much improved speeds – 70 Megabits per second or better in some cases. If you see the engineers tinkering with a green cabinet near you, it might just be your turn next !
West 1
Stewart Milne Homes have promised to replace the dead trees and shrubs this spring.
AWPR
We have been told that construction work on the bypass will begin at various places along the route and that no particular section will be prioritised.
Yellow marker posts have been placed in fields where the road will go through. These show the wider operational area where construction activities will take place including the re-alignment of farm roads, tree planting, etc. Information about construction activities in the area can be obtained from Aberdeen Roads Ltd (0800-058-8350).
Playing Field on Fairley Road
We hope this will be ready for use by the summer.
Building Work on Fairley Road
Dandara are building 49 new homes on the site at Fairley Road. Stewart Milne Homes are building a further 97 beside them in the next two fields. Residents are justified in complaining about the poor state of the road surface on Fairley Road caused by the development work. This matter is being pursued. The developers are supposed to be protecting the ecology of the ‘green’ area beside the Den Burn. KCC will be monitoring this to see if it happens.
As we look towards what a new year will bring, my greatest challenge to date the inability to stop dating everything 2014! Not a good start, but I promise to have overcome that hurdle by the time you read this.
As I look forward I hope that 2015 brings some good to everyone. Each year brings new challenges balanced by new opportunities and we all have our share of exceedingly good or exceedingly bad years with most of them balanced somewhere in the middle. Being in the middle sometimes isn’t too bad a place to be.
The winter has been mild (to date) but the level of gritting seems to be distinctly down on previous years. To date I’ve witnessed absolutely no gritting of footways anywhere in Kingswells. I raised this in the strongest terms and was assured the service was operating as it had in previous years, but I’m totally unconvinced. Whilst accepting that we’ll never see a much gritting as we’d all like to see, there’s just been nothing at all as far as footways are concerned. As I write I have received assurances from the Council that areas reported by both myself and local residents will be attended to. We’ll see…
There have been numerous complaints over the past year about the state of the Fairley Road Field. Some resurfacing was done early last year, following the installation of drainage, but it was never completed and the promised reseeding never happened. Further earthworks are to due take place as soon as weather permits and seeding will be done in the Spring so the field is due to be back in use by Summer. It’s a bit déjà vu, but I’ll be keeping a beady eye on the progress or lack of!
The absolutely disgusting mess that Dandara have tried to pass off as a road surface is another ongoing issue, again affecting Fairley Road. They have been authorised by the Council to use a temporary road surface on condition that they resurface a significant part of Fairley Road upon completion of their devel-opment. However, the “surface” they created did not even meet the basic standards for a temporary surface. It has since seen some improvement and the Council have now accepted it on a temporary basis and will monitor its condition. It’s still pretty substandard if you ask me, but we are where we are and I’m happy to re-visit this one if the surface deteriorates further.
At the opposite end of Kingswells we have another ongoing issue with a section of public footpath and the road being flooded in Derbeth Grange from adjoining fields in the owner-ship of Stewart Milne. This is the same problem we saw last year, which took several months to resolve. A more permanent solution is needed and I’ve asked the Council to step in once again to resolve matters.
Bus services continue to be a concern following off-peak frequency reductions and, as you’ll have read in the last issue, we’re now looking towards the X17 coming into the Park & Ride site in the near future. This is an initiative I’ve been working on for over two years, something I first raised with a previous managing director at Stagecoach. At that time they expressed an interest in providing the service subject to certain access arrangements being put in place. Funding to make adaptations to the road layout at the Park & Ride has been secured and a Planning Application is currently awaiting determination. All being well I should be able to update you with some details at some time in the next few weeks. It’s been frustrating the time this has taken, but great to see it finally start to fall into place.
Last but not least I’m delighted that Cabinet 12 is now supply-ing super fast broadband to 277 homes in Corse Avenue, Corse Gardens, Corse Wynd, Migvie Gardens, Migvie Lea, Migvie Avenue, Migvie Grove, Midmar Park, Midmar Walk, Midmar Crescent, Midmar View, Bethlin Mews and Cromar Gardens.
A fuller explanation around which cabinets serve which streets is available on my website. You may also wish to check out pro-gress in respect of your own address at http://www.digitalscot-land.org/whereandwhen
As always, please get in touch to raise any concerns you may have. In the meantime wrap up well and lets hope the cold snap is short lived.
Firstly I’d like to take the opportunity to wish all readers a
very happy New Year on behalf of the Bucksburn Community Policing Team.
Having informed you in the last police article of the Kingswells Community News of the importance of ensuring that homes and motor vehicles are kept properly secured at all times, this is a reminder message that we will continue to promote
throughout the coming year.
Opportunist offenders are still targeting areas
across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire during hours of darkness where they seek to find unlocked doors that allow them to gain entry to property or vehicles.
Carrying out basic, yet essential security checks will assist greatly to reduce crime and ensure you don’t become the victim of preventable situations.
Your local policing team remain committed to carry out regular night time patrols of the Kingswells and surrounding areas to ensure that any suspicious incidents can be fully checked out. This type of traditional policing will support local communities to deter potential offenders.
I’m pleased to inform you that reported
monthly crime statistics for the Kingswells area remain low which is reassuring however, we will not become complacent as we strive to maintain this.
Along with my team I look forward to working with local community groups so we can work in partnership to tackle any on-going or developing problems to ensure that your community remains a safe place to live and work in.
Should you have any need to contact Police Scotland please let us know on 101 or via Crimestopers on 0800 555 111.
Dave ChambersBucksburn Community Policing Team Inspector.
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Obesity in petsEveryone is aware of the problem of rising levels of obesity in people and the subsequent health problems that this brings. Alongside this, there has been a rise in the number of obese pet animals over the past few years.
It can be hard to resist giving your pet titbits, especially when your dog is looking at you with imploring eyes or your cat is meowing round your feet. However, your pet will thank you in the long run for sparing them all the additional treats, and will have a healthier, happier and longer life because of this.
Dogs carrying excess weight are more prone to developing joint disease and ligament and tendon injuries. Many dogs will develop arthritis with age, but carrying extra weight will make any joint pain much more severe. Overweight pets can also have problems with heart disease and respiratory problems. Overweight cats are much more prone to developing diabetes and overweight male cats can develop catastrophic bladder problems. Obesity is also an underlying component of joint disease in cats.
Apart from the aforementioned health issues, heavier pets are also less able to exercise, play and be active, so are unable to enjoy life to the full.
It is easier to prevent your pet becoming obese in the first place than trying to reduce their weight. All complete pet foods will have a guide for the amount to be fed based on the pet’s breed and age and ideal adult weight. If you do want to give your pet any treats then the amount of their regular food should be reduced slightly to compensate for this. Preferably, rather than feeding treats or titbits, it is better to keep some of your pet’s daily allowance of dry food aside and give this instead.
If you are unsure as to your pet’s ideal weight, your vet can give you guidance on this. As a general rule, dogs should have a waist when looked at from above, and you should be able to feel your dog’s ribs fairly easily but not be able to see them.
Cats can be more difficult to assess, but should have a visible waist. Again your vet can advise you on your cat’s ideal body weight and condition.
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The Mains of Drum has recently received both a 5-star Visitor Attraction Quality Assurance Award and a Taste Our Best Food and Drink award.
The garden centre in Drumoak, Aberdeenshire, which features fresh, seasonally and locally sourced food on its menu, is celebrating after successfully securing the two quality awards from VisitScotland.
The Taste Our Best accreditation, which is a joint initiative between VisitScotland and the Scottish Government, with support from Scotland Food and Drink, recognises businesses for including and promoting local produce in over 60 percent of their menu.
Located on the first floor of the garden centre with windows looking out onto the rolling Aberdeenshire hills, the 200 seat Mains of Drum’s restaurant provides and caters for a variety of visitors with dishes such as Cullen Skink, Stornoway black pudding and eggs from the Sunnyside Farm in Maryculter.
Marketing Manager, Beverley Spindler, from the Mains of Drum said: “We are absolutely thrilled, not only to be awarded the five stars, but for our restaurant to achieve the ‘Taste our Best’ Award at the same time. We truly believe in providing a top quality service to our customers on every visit and for them to taste delicious, locally grown food, when dining in our beautiful restaurant.
The Taste Our Best initiative brings together the tourism and food and drink industries. It is designed to recognise businesses including; hotels, restaurants, cafes, takeaways, visitor attractions, B&Bs and pubs or bars; that not only offer a quality food and drink experience, but include and promote Scottish produce on their menus, to give consumers choice.
Research has shown that visitors are willing to pay up to 15% more for food that is of Scottish or regional origin and businesses that provide local food can typically enjoy higher level sales of up to 20% per year.
The Taste Our Best scheme is the latest addition to VisitScotland’s Quality Assurance (QA) Schemes, which aim to drive up quality in tourism products across the country. Taste Our Best will provide businesses with an assessment of their food provision and their menu by qualified assessors, with those meeting the necessary criteria gaining the award.
For accommodation providers and visitor attractions, the assessment will take place at the same time as the main VisitScotland Quality Assurance grading, meaning that many tourism businesses that already participate in the QA Scheme will no longer have to apply and pay for a separate food and drink assessment.
Further details on Taste Our Best can be found at: www.visitscotland.org/quality-foodanddrink.aspx
More information on the Mains of Drum can be found at: http://www.mainsofdrum.co.uk/
The Main(s of Drum) event! Double victory for Aberdeenshire Garden Centre
Back left to right: Beverley Spindler Marketing Manager, Audrey Forbes Director, Emma Milton Catering Manager, Ross Brown Chef, and front left, Craig Forbes Operations Manager and Neil Christison Regional Partnership Executive from Visit Scotland.
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This luscious cake is an American classic and has a vibrant red coloured chocolate sponge filled with a tangy soft cheese frosting and dark chocolate icing. Serves 8
Ready in 1 hour 30 minutes plus cooling and chilling
FOR THE CAKE
300g plain flour2 tsp bicarbonate of soda4 tbsp cocoa powder235g butter, softened, plus extra for greasing300g caster sugar3 medium eggs, beaten200ml buttermilk11/2 tsp vanilla extract2 tbsp liquid red food colouring
FOR THE CHOCOLATE ICING
140g plain chocolate, broken into pieces75g butter, diced75ml double cream
FOR THE FROSTING
55g unsalted butter, softened½ tsp vanilla extract115g icing sugar, sifted115 g full-fat soft cheese1 tbsp mini chocolate chips, to decorate
Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas Mark 4. Grease and line the bases of 3 x 20cm round sandwich tins. Sift the flour, bicarbonate of soda and cocoa powder into a bowl and set aside.
Place the butter and sugar in a large bowl and using an electric whisk beat together until pale and fluffy. Gradually beat in the eggs then beat in the buttermilk, vanilla extract and red food colouring. Fold in the sifted flour mixture.
Divide the mixture evenly between the prepared tins and level the surfaces. Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until risen and just firm to the touch. Leave the sponges in the tins for 10 minutes then turn out onto a wire rack and leave to cool completely.
To make the chocolate icing, put the chocolate and butter in a large heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Leave until melted. Remove the bowl from the heat and stir the mixture until smooth. Cool for 2-3 minutes then stir in the cream. Leave at room temperature for 20-30 minutes then chill in the refrigerator for 30-45 minutes, stirring occasionally until the icing is just thick enough to spread.
To make the frosting place the softened butter in a bowl and beat in the vanilla extract. Gradually beat in the sifted icing sugar until very smooth and thoroughly blended, then beat in the soft cheese. Don’t overbeat or the icing will start to go runny.
To assemble the cake, sandwich all three sponges together with two-thirds of the frosting and nearly all of the chocolate icing (reserve 1-2 tbsp for decorating the top of the cake). Spread the rest of the frosting around the sides and over the top of the cake, smoothing it with a spatula.
Gently reheat the rest of the chocolate icing in the microwave on low setting for a few seconds – it needs to be just soft enough to pipe. Spoon the icing into a paper piping bag and snip off the end. Pipe swirls of icing on top of the cake then sprinkle with chocolate chips. Chill in the fridge until ready to eat.
TIP
To add an extra sweetness and colour to the cake, place 2 tbsp granulated sugar in a bag with a little red food colouring paste. Rub the bag between your fingertips to colour the sugar. Use a palette knife to coat the coloured sugar around the side of the frosted cake. Only add this final touch just before serving the cake otherwise the sugar will dissolve into the frosting.
Red Velvet Cake
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Session 2014 – 2015
Term 3: 6 Jan2015 - 2 April 2015· Term Starts – Monday 5 Jan 2015· Mid Term – Monday 16 Feb 2015· Term Ends – Thursday 2 April 2015· Easter Holiday – Fri 3 to Fri 17 April 2015 ](Good Friday 3 April 2015)Term 4: 20 April 2015 - 3 July 2015· Term Starts – Mon 20 April 2015· May Day Holiday – Mon 4 May 2015· Term Ends – Friday 3 July 2015
BucksburnAcademy news
Bucksburn Academy T: 01224 710700
Kepplehills Rd, Aberdeen AB21 9DG
School and Community Photography competitionThe schools Art & Design department are starting an exciting new initiative called Camera Collage. Camera Collage will offer members of our school and community
an opportunity to share a common interest, photography. Each month we will set a different theme and would like you to send your best photographs to Camera Collage via email. Along with the students studying Higher Photography, we will select images to showcase on the website. In December 2015 Camera Collage will frame 12 images and have them hanging as a collection in Mr Mohamed’s office for the duration of the forthcoming year. Some of the photographs will also feature in the Bucksburn Community Calendar.
The theme for January is Frost. Happy snapping!
Details: Please email photographs by the end of the month to: [email protected]
Photographs to be taken with a digital camera and should be uploaded in high resolution.
If your photographs are selected a photography release form will have to be signed granting permission for the photographs to be used for the school website, display boards and Bucksburn Community Calendar.
Bucksburn Academy Steel OrchestraThe end of last term was a busy time for the Steel Pans. As well as performing at the school Christmas Fayre they brought some Christmas calypso magic to the prestigious Evening Express Carol Service at the Music Hall. They feature in a short video of the event that can be accessed from the EE website. The orchestra also performed at the grand opening of the Village Resort hotel at Prime Four
Christmas Fayre ThanksA massive thank you to everyone who supported the school’s Christmas Fayre at the end of last term. The event raised over £7000 which is an incredible effort. All money raised goes to support the many activities run by the school ASN Wing as well as extra curricular activity across the whole school.
The problem I am asked about most frequently is one that almost all of us have: “What do I do with a north-facing wall?” What everyone wants to know is what you can plant up it but more, what can you do to turn your luck around and increase the chances of your chosen plant not just surviving but also thriving.
Getting the right plant for the spot is essential and I’ve listed some great north-facing wall climbers below. But first consider whether you need year round cover (and so something evergreen) or would accept a deciduous climber that will lose its leaves but keep a framework of stems, or if you could live with an herbaceous climber that will die back each year and return again in the spring.
If the wall is very shaded it may be worth reducing the shade somewhat if you can. Nearby wall-shrubs could be pruned back or overhanging trees crown lifted (the lower branches removed) or crown thinned (the crown’s density reduced).
Walls may be a dark grey or brick colour but you can make the spot considerably more plant friendly if you change the colour of the wall before planting. Use of a pale-coloured masonry paint on the wall will cause light to be reflected back to the plant and make it more likely to thrive even if conditions are a bit gloomy.
Consider growing more than one climber to increase the season of interest and so the amount of time that the wall looks good – perhaps a climber for spring and another for summer.
Flowering may be reduced if the site is gloomy and so to maximize your climber’s flower power make sure that you apply sulphate of potash as this will increase flowering potential somewhat. Follow the instructions on the pack, and generally try to apply it to the root area in late summer and then again in spring.
Make sure that the climber goes in at a good distance from the wall up which it is to grow. A minimum of about 45cm (18in) should mean that it can develop a good strong root system and this will help to keep it growing well and strongly even in this rather shaded spot.
Self-clinging climbers such as the climbing hydrangea or a variegated ivy can look great and help to provide at least part of the interest you’re after for your
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north-facing wall, but even these often need a bit of a helping hand to get them started – train the stems on to the wall and protect from wind until they get properly attached.
TOP PLANTS FOR NORTH-FACING WALLS AND FENCES
Akebia quinata (the chocolate vine). Pretty pale green foliage with vanilla perfumed purple-brown flowers in late spring.
Berberidopsis coralline, evergreen twining climber. Prefers acidic soil, clusters of deep red flowers in early autumn.
Clematis, twining climber. Many smaller flowered varieties such as white flowered, rampant C. montana do well.
Codonopsis convolvulacea. A herbaceous climber with pretty bell or saucer shaped violet coloured flowers in summer.
Humulus lupulus, the hop, a twining climber. The golden leafed ‘Aurea’ will perform quite well as long as the shade is not too intense or the site windy.
Hydrangea anomela petiolaris. A self-clinging deciduous climber with broad creamy white flowerheads.
Lathyrus latifolius. the everlasting pea. An herbaceous climber with small clusters of pinky purple flowers throughout the summer and in to early autumn
Lonicera x Americana, a deciduous twining climber. Classic honeysuckle flowers in yellow flushed red and with a gorgeous perfume during the summer.Lonicera x tellamanniana, a deciduous twining climber. Bright yellowy orange honeysuckle flowers in late spring and summer.
Vitis coignetiae, a self-clinging, rampant climber. Renowned for its fabulous autumn colour.
Visit Pippa’s website www.pippagreenwood.com for ‘Grow Your Own with Pippa Greenwood’ veg growing system, biological controls, fleece, copper tape and lots more besides.
If you’re confused by drawdown, annuity, tax wrappers and pots, you are definitely not alone. It sometimes feels like politicians are being deliberately obtuse - why don’t they use plain English when talking about pensions so we all know where we stand on this important issue? Although other choices are available, including property or stocks and shares, saving into a private pension does offer the following tax advantages:
But what about the State Pension – won’t that provide the income I need in retirement? State Pension rules are set to change from 2016 when a weekly flat rate will be introduced. These are some of the new rules, should you reach State Pension age on or after April 6th 2016:
• Thefullpensionamountwillbeaminimumof£148.40perweek(theactualamounttobedecided upon in late 2015)• Atleast10qualifyingyearsareneededtoreceivethenewStatePension• Thetotalnumberofqualifyingyearsforeligibilityhasincreasedfrom30to35
Auto enrolmentAuto enrolment is new legislation that obliges employers to offer eligible employees a workplace pension. The new scheme, which was introduced in October 2012, is being rolled out to include all UK employers by February 2018.
Currently, if you earn a minimum annual salary of £10,000, are aged between 22 years and the State Pension age, and work under a contract of employment in the UK, you are entitled to automatic enrolment on a workplace pension.
Pensions Rules are Changing: What You Need to KnowBy Ann Haldon
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New legislation regarding annuitiesUntil recently, when you retired you had no other option but to use your pension fund to buy an annuity. Annuities provide you with a fixed income for life, and even though the legislation has now changed, this product may still offer the most stable income for you in retirement.
The 2014 Budget saw changes to pension legislation. From 2015 you will not be forced to buy an annuity with your pension fund, but can use the money in other ways. As a general rule, people choose the ‘income drawdown’ option, an annuity, or a mixture of the two.
What is income drawdown?Income drawdown is an alternative to buying an annuity. You buy stocks, shares and other investments and take a regular income by cashing them in over time, with 25% of each ‘drawdown’ being tax-free.
If you are not risk averse and you have a larger pension pot of £100,000 or more, the rewards can be greater.
Income drawdown is a complicated option with high fees and charges, and it will not be right for everybody, but there is a middle-ground that offers the security of an annuity with a little more flexibility.
An investment-linked annuityThere are two types of investment-linked annuity:
Charges and fees for pension products can be high, and serve to reduce the overall value of your fund. That’s why you need the advice and guidance of a professional financial expert to cut through the jargon, clearly explain what you are buying, and tell you the true cost of the product.
Starting at 1 and finishing at 49, track your way from one square to another, either horizontally, vertically or diagonally, placing consecutive numbers into the empty squares as you go. Some numbers are already given.
Word LadderChange one letter at a time (but not the position of any letter) to make a new word - and move from the word at the top of the ladder to the word at the bottom, using the exact number of rungs provided.
L E A F
S T E M
Please do mention Kingswells Community News when responding to advertisers - thank you 17
We have been serving fine italian cuisine since 1977. Extensive à la carte menu for lunch and dinner.
5 minutes walk from His Majesty’s Theatre and Music Hall – special lunch and pre-theatre menus.
Freshly baked home mode home made pizzas with lashings of toppings. Tender pasta dishes full of tasty ingredients and luscious cream sauces. Seafood, prime steaks, chicken dishes, all with that extra touch of genius which is true Italian cooking!
A little bit of Italy...
Open Monday to Saturday: 12 noon to 2.30pm & 5.30pm to 10.15pm
...in Little Belmont Street
7 Little Belmont Street | Aberdeen | AB10 1JG
www.poldinos.co.uk
We have been serving fine italian cuisine since 1977. Extensive à la carte menu for lunch and dinner.
5 minutes walk from His Majesty’s Theatre and Music Hall – special lunch and pre-theatre menus.
Freshly baked home mode home made pizzas with lashings of toppings. Tender pasta dishes full of tasty ingredients and luscious cream sauces. Seafood, prime steaks, chicken dishes, all with that extra touch of genius which is true Italian cooking!
A little bit of Italy...
Open Monday to Saturday: 12 noon to 2.30pm & 5.30pm to 10.15pm
...in Little Belmont Street
7 Little Belmont Street | Aberdeen | AB10 1JG
www.poldinos.co.uk
We have been serving fine italian cuisine since 1977. Extensive à la carte menu for lunch and dinner.
5 minutes walk from His Majesty’s Theatre and Music Hall – special lunch and pre-theatre menus.
Freshly baked home mode home made pizzas with lashings of toppings. Tender pasta dishes full of tasty ingredients and luscious cream sauces. Seafood, prime steaks, chicken dishes, all with that extra touch of genius which is true Italian cooking!
A little bit of Italy...
Open Monday to Saturday: 12 noon to 2.30pm & 5.30pm to 10.15pm
...in Little Belmont Street
7 Little Belmont Street | Aberdeen | AB10 1JG
www.poldinos.co.uk
A little bit of Italy...... in Little Belmont StreetWe have been serving fine italian cuisine since 1977.Extensive à la carte menu for lunch and dinner.
5 minutes walk from His Majesty’s Theatre and Music Hall - special lunch and pre-theatre menus.
Freshly baked home-made pizzas with lashings of toppings. Tender pasta dishes full of tasty ingredients and luscious cream sauces. Seafood, prime steaks, chicken dishes, all with that extra touch of genius which is true italian cooking!
Open Monday to Saturday 12 noon to 2.30pm and 5.30pm to 10.15pm
7 Little Belmont Street | Aberdeen | AB10 1JG
www.poldinos.co.ukGift
Vouchers Available
Kingwells Public Hall
Mondays
10 00am - 1 00pm Dog Training
6 30pm - 7 45pm Boxing Class
8 00pm- 9 30pm Pipes & Drums Class
Tuesdays
6 15pm - 8 30pm Jazzercise
9 00pm - 10 00pm Fitness & Boxing
Class
Wednesdays
10 00am - 12 30pm Dog Training
3 40pm - 5 - 50pm Junior Jazzercise
6 30pm - 7 45pm Boxing Class
8 00pm - 9 00pm Zumba
Thursdays
9 30am - 10 30am Jazzercise
6 00pm - 9 30pm Taoist Tai Chi
Society Class
Fridays
10 00am - 1 00pm Dog Training
6 00pm - 10 00pm Choi Kwang Do
Class
Saturdays
9 30am - 10 30pm Jazzercise
11 00am - 12noon Zumba
Sundays
10 00am - 2 00pm Dog Training
The above are all regular classes but anyone who may be interested in joining in one of them would be best to call at the hall during the class to ascertain if there are places available
The hall can also be booked for special occasions out with the regular classes
Carpet Bowls 1.00 3.00Girl Guiding 7.00 9.00Tang Soo Do 6.00 8.00
FRIDAYAlison - Football 9.30 10.30School Gym 10.45 12.45Alison - Football 2.00 2.45Liabary 2.50 3.50Ian - Football 4.00 6.00Girl Guiding (coffee shop & hall)-Cubs 6.00 7.15-8.45
SATURDAY Danscentre (hall) 9.00 12.30
GENTLE EXERCISE CLASSESRegular exercise will help to keep the heart and lungs functioning efficiently, strengthen and tone muscles, keep joints mobile and maintain bone density. If you are interested in this, just come along to the main centre on Mondays at 2.30-3.30 and enjoy the fun filled class.
Just DanceFun and fitness classes are held at Webster Park each week which include:-Mini Moovers from 18 monthsPre school classesJazz and Tap from primary 1Just boys classesAdult Jazz and Tap workouts (from beginners to Advanced)For more information on any of these classes please contact Jean A. Darker on 07521 398582Speeding at Derbeth There has been quite a few complaints from the residents of Derbeth regarding the speed of people driving to and from Webster Park. Can we remind you its a residential area with lots of young family’sTo keep up to date with the latest news like our facebook page or contact us on 01224 741806
For better health and wellbeing
Peacehaven Complementary Therapies Offering - a range of Massage,
Aromatherapy, Reflexology, Reiki, Aqua detox and Ear candling.
Treatments available from Kingswells
Available for corporate work.For more information contact
Please do mention Kingswells Community News when responding to advertisers - thank you 19
WEBSTER PARK
HALL HALL AWP AWP FSP FSPMonday tennybeats 9.45 10.45
just dance 7.15 8.30wellside afc 8.00 9.00girl guiding 6.00 7.00
Tuesday friskis & svettis 6.25 7.25
metafit 7.30 8.00
Wednesday just dance 9.30 11.00
just dance 3.45 8.45
Thursday just dance 4.45 8.30wellside afc 8.00 9.00
Friday pilates 9.30 11.30
just dance 3.45 7.00
Saturday highland dance 10.00 11.30school football 9.30 11.30stoneywood/continental 1.00 4.00
Sunday dyce football 9.00 12.00
all BOLD activity users MUST join the Centre
Kingswells Community CentreThe Heart of the Village
PRIZE SUDOKU - Win £20 Cashhow to play
Fill in the grid so that every row, every column, and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9, with no repetitions!That’s all there is to it.You solve the puzzle with reasoning and logic. There’s no math involved and no adding up. It’s fun, it’s challenging, it’s addictive.once completed, fill in the form on the back and return by 18 february 2015The first name drawn from the ‘hat’ is the winner
Whilst on an operational tour in Afghanistan in 2010 Gary stepped on an IED, his limbs had taken the full force of the explosion and Gary lost both his legs and an arm. The ABF the Soldiers Charity supported his family whilst a significant number of home modifications
were made, so that he could return home. The charity also helped to make Gary's car accessible, Gary
said, "Being able to drive again was really important to me as it was a progression in my independence going from home into the car, The Soldiers Charity has had such a positive impact in my life." Gary is only one of many soldiers and veterans that The Soldiers Charity has helped, they gave so much, now together let us show our support to allow The Soldiers Charity's to continue to be able to support many more of those in need.
Your help is needed
Would you be prepared to nominate The Soldiers Charity as your charity of choice?
Do you plan to run a 10k, 1/2 marathon, marathon, or perhaps a sponsored walk, cycle or climb? Whatever your challenge please choose the ABF The soldiers charity, the Army's national charity founded in 1944.
Why not host a fundraiser? A coffee morning, concert, 70's Disco. Volunteer to help out whenever needed.
Please contact to discuss. I look forward to hearing from YOU!
Please help those servicemen and women, who were and like Gary have sacrificed so much, I believe they have earned the right to our help.
Kind Regards
Catherine Robertson Ross MBETel: 07879854927
Please do mention Kingswells Community News when responding to advertisers - thank you 21
Mother’s Day around The WorldMothers deserve attention all year round, so why do we celebrate mothers on one special day - and do other countries follow suit?
The UKTraditionally, on ‘Mothering Sunday’ (the fourth Sunday in Lent) people returned to their baptismal ‘mother church’. As their parents’ home was often nearby, over time the day became a holiday for visiting family. Flowers were gathered on the way home and mums received Simnel cakes. Observance of Mothering Sunday gradually withered but after its revival in 1920 it spread throughout the Empire, becoming known as Mother’s Day.
Around the WorldMost countries have a Mother’s Day, but origins and traditions vary. Unless stated otherwise, countries below follow U.S. tradition, celebrating on the second Sunday in May.
In France, American soldiers introduced their Mother’s Day during the First World War. Originally focussed on fertile mothers, today Fête des Mères celebrates all mothers, who traditionally receive a cake shaped like a bouquet of flowers. France celebrates on the last Sunday in May, as does Sweden, where the Red Cross sells plastic flowers in aid of deprived mothers.
In Italy mums receive a heart-shaped cake, but on the second Sunday before Christmas children in Yugoslavia tie their mother up until she gives them treats. Egypt’s Mother’s Day on 21st March is celebrated with songs devoted to mothers.
In Nepal, children return to the family home on “Aama ko Mukh Herne Din” (“to see Mother’s face”) on the last day of Baishak dark fortnight, making breakfast for their mothers and giving them gifts, favourite foods and new clothes. Those who have lost mothers visit Mata Tirtha, a sacred site with a pool in which they ‘look upon their mother’s face’.
The USA didn’t keep English Mother’s Day, but Anna Jarvis campaigned for one in honour of her mother, who introduced “Mothers’ Friendship Day” after the Civil War. At a church service on the second anniversary of her mother’s death (the second Sunday of May), Anna distributed her mother’s favourite flowers: white carnations. Today they signify mothers who have passed away, while coloured carnations honour mothers still living.
In Australia, Mother’s Day grew from Janet Heyden’s campaign to give gifts to lonely inmates of Newington State Home for Women. Schoolchildren in Japan draw pictures of their mothers for a nationwide competition and winning pictures travel the country in a mobile exhibition.
Mexico’s Mother’s Day on 10th May was once a pawn in battles between government and church on modernisation and materialism. It now celebrates both mothers and the Virgin Mary. Children often arrive at their mother’s house the night before. Traditionally the day starts with mass before mothers are presented with a breakfast of tamales and atole, but many mothers are now treated to breakfast at home, accompanied by a song.
In Paraguay, Mother’s Day is celebrated with Dia de la Patria (Independence Day) on 15th May, to honour Juana María de Lara’s role in winning Paraguay’s independence. Similarly, Bolivia’s Dia de la Madre Boliviana on 27th May commemorates the women killed fighting for independence in the Battle of Coronilla. In Ethiopia, their ‘Antrosht’ celebration lasts three days, beginning after the rains have ceased (usually October/November). Traditionally, mothers cook a special meal but daughters provide dairy products, vegetables and spices while sons bring the meat. Afterwards they enjoy traditional songs and dances.
So why not celebrate Mexican-style this year and sing your Mum a song?
Compu-CareCall Neil 07539-462-064 Laptop & PC upgrades/repairs/internetCollect & return serviceNew computers availableLaptop and PC training available£20 per hour
Happy Paws Dog Walker & BoarderCaring and fully insured Police checked dog lover.Call - Helen TokelyMobile : 07912 963 925Email: [email protected]
Reflexology by GordonT: 07769 519 761W: www.reflexologybygordon.co.uk
Reflexology:Lymph DrainageFeet and Hand
Evening and Weekend Appointments in your own
homeGift Vouchers Available
Westhill Bowling Club
Westhill Bowling Club invite you to come and try bowling, the green is situated in the Denman Park Westhill and will open mid April 2015 for the outdoor season.
If you are interested please contact Isobel McLean on 01224 742745 for further details, all ages are welcome and coaching is available.
Look forward to seeing you on the green.
Kingswells Parish ChurchAs always we welcome everyone to our services. We are a friendly gathering of people who are involved in the community in many and varied ways. Morning worship on Sundays is at 11.00am with a crèche and the Jaffa kids also meet at the same time. This is a great time for families and people of all ages to meet and share in the fellowship of the church. Coffee and tea are served after worship. Friendship is given and friendship is received.
We have a Messy Church on Sunday 1st February and on Sunday 1st March. We start at 3.00pm and after a meal finish by 5.00pm.
Messy Church:• isawayofbeingchurchforfamiliesinvolvingfun• isfoundacrosstheworld• isaboutdevelopingChristianvalues,forallages,based on creativity, hospitality and celebration Come and join us!
We will be having a special service on Wednesday 18 February at 6.00pm in the Church. Ash Wednesday is a Christian festival that marks the beginning of Lent, six and a half weeks of reflection and preparation for the most
important Christian festival of Easter.
Our Bible Study Group meets each Tuesday in the Church Halls at 9.30am. All will be welcome to share in a time when the Bible is explored and
we learn from it the challenges of the Christian life and how to meet them.
As part of our outreach to our community we participate with our Minister in the Prayer Space for Schools Project at the Local Primary School. This will take place in
February. ‘Prayer Spaces In Schools’ enable children and young people to explore faith and spirituality from a broadly Christian perspective in a safe, creative and interactive way. A range of flexible resources is used that bring an experiential dimension to a variety of subject areas and to pastoral aspects of school life. We benefit in participating as much as the young people whom we guide through the space.
Saturday 26 March - Coffee Morning in the Church Halls 10.30 - 12noon
Services at EasterPalm Sunday 29 March at 11.00am – All Age Worship – followed by the Stated Annual MeetingMaundy Thursday 2 April at 7.00pmGood Friday 3 April at 7.00pmEaster Sunday 5 April at 11.00am – with Easter Breakfast at 9.30am followed by an Easter Egg Hunt at 10.15am
