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FGD ISSUE 18 - website layout - final

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Published by jessica.m.simpson, 2021-07-24 05:32:57

FGD - Issue 18 - July 2021

FGD ISSUE 18 - website layout - final

Fit’s gan Doune

Issue 18 of Strathdon Area’s Local Newsletter, July 2021

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Fit’s gan doon on Ben Newe

Ben Newe, at the heart of Strathdon, has been a focus of community since ancient
Pictish times, with a Holy Well on its rocky summit and clear views of surrounding
glens. In recent years, forestry logging tracks maintained by Gordon Woodlands
have made the hill accessible to almost everyone via the paths that set out from the
Deochry and Buchaam carparks.

The hill has long been a favourite of local families, dog walkers, cross-country skiers,
orienteers and mountain bikers. Although the older waymarked tracks have
somewhat deteriorated, the recent efforts of local volunteers have effected great
improvements.

Ben Newe has attracted extreme sports enthusiasts, including hang-gliders, from as
early as the 1970s. James McIntosh of the Lecht Ski Centre was one of the first to
try hang-gliding from the hill, along with Glenshee ski instructor Gustaff Fischalaer.
Ultimately they found the hill’s provision of a short flight with little uplift small
reward for the effort of hauling up their heavy gear, although paragliders have since
been observed launching themselves from the summit.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The next issue of Fit’s Gan Doune will come out in autumn 2021. Please send your
news, stories and comments by mid-September to fitsgandoune@gmail.com

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Around 30 years ago, the art of Connor’s aiming high
mountain bike trail building (the
creation of tracks exploiting the My name is Connor William
natural features of a hill) became the Davidson. I am 11 years old and live
passion of a group of local bikers, in Strathdon. I want to improve our
most notably Jim Prince and his playpark at Bellabeg, which has
team of instructors from Bigfoot equipment mainly for younger
Adventures. The term ‘mountain children. I’ve talked to the other
bike’ was first coined by Gary Fisher, schoolchildren and we would like to
a colourful Californian and visionary have swings and a roundabout for
adapter of junk bikes, and the first everyone. A shelter, basketball net
UK mountain bikes were produced in and adult training equipment have
the 1980s. In 1991, Jim’s investment also been suggested. At school, we
in a hire fleet of bikes attracted worked out that £6000 might be
customers from far afield who needed. I have written to the local
wished to try out these rigid-bodied, councillors and contacted the
large-tyred, low-geared bikes. Strathdon Community Development
Mountain biking is now a worldwide Trust. Mum has helped me by setting
multi-discipline sport that demands up a crowdfunding site for a
extreme strength and fitness. fundraising walk up Ben Nevis, the
biggest mountain in Scotland, in
Jim, and Chris Roper, a key figure in August. I’ve already climbed
the Aberdeenshire Trail Association, Lochnagar and we’ve raised over
have since collaborated to build an £1300!
extensive network of trails on Ben
Newe that are fully sanctioned by If you would like to contribute,
Scottish Woodlands. please do so through this link:
https://www.justgiving.com/crowdf
Chris, who was first taken biking on unding/connordavidson or by using
Ben Newe by his parents at the age the donations sheet in the Bellabeg
of 8 (with his sister on horseback!), Shop.
would love to see the hill improved
to allow everyone to enjoy it.

With the support of Scottish
Woodlands, Ben Newe continues to
represent a marvellous outdoor
asset for the community.

Many thanks to James McIntosh, Jim
Prince and Chris Roper (Ride in
Peace Adventures) for their stories.

2

Silver Circle News the loop, you may want to consider
joining us. We are a very
Dare we say that summer has at last accommodating and flexible group
arrived? (We hope the sun won’t offering a wide range of activities
have disappeared and forgotten to and opportunities to socialise. Some
return by the time you read this.) We members come regularly, some just
would normally be looking forward now and again; you choose what
to our summer outings but these are you’d like to do. If you’re thinking
again not to be this year. about joining, or if you’d like to find
out more, please contact Nancy on
We continue with our newsletters, the number below.
but with vaccinations proceeding
apace, the restrictions of the past At the end of April, as part of Captain
year slowly easing and summer Sir Tom Moore's 100 Challenge, we
ahead, we are hoping things are provided Towie School with
beginning to look a little brighter. At sunflower seeds, pots and compost.
the end of April we therefore The pupils at Towie School and
published our last newsletter for Nursery planted the seeds and all
distribution to non-members so we took one home to care for and
could refocus our efforts on our nurture – we hope they are on their
members and different activities that way to growing into healthy
we can offer them. We are sunflowers. The children were also
continuing with our online activities inspired to write some fabulous
(bingo, countdown, word games), poems and to create pictures and
have introduced a Wednesday paintings based on sunflowers.
afternoon stroll and are making the
occasional one-to-one visit. Our Friday bus is now going to
Huntly every second week. For any
The sun most definitely helps with information on the bus, please
planning our strolls. We have had a contact Gavin on 019756 51798.
lovely ramble along the House of
Newe road and have walked from To arrange transport to medical
the kirk to Poldhulie Bridge. We are appointments and prescription
planning walks in Lumsden and delivery, please contact Irene on
various other locations. 07707 624657.

We can welcome new members at For any information on the Silver
any time and are delighted to have Circle and the support we can
gained five new members this currently offer, please contact Nancy
spring. If you’re not presently a by either phone (07771 749849) or
member, but would like to be kept in email (DCO@silvercircle.org.uk).

3

Church News concern and reminds us that we still
need to be cautious. We can only
I walk through a meadow in June, hope that as more than 75% of the
Wild flowers stroke my legs, adult population in Scotland have
now received at least one dose of a
Red and yellow petals caress me, vaccine, the impact of the virus will
The dew on the grass washes me, be lessened significantly.

Is each tiny flower an angel? So, regrettably face coverings and
Is each petal an angelic finger? social distancing might be with us for
some time as we adapt to living with
So, here we are at the beginning of this particular coronavirus.
the summer holidays!!
What is it about this time of year At the start of the school holidays,
that makes everyone happy? Is it the we would normally hold our very
sunshine, the warmer days, the popular Holiday Club, to which we
lighter nights, or the beauties of the invite all children at our local
countryside – the sights, the smells, primary schools. This was cancelled
the sounds, the feel of fresh grass in 2020 due to the pandemic and
against your skin? sadly the same is true this year. We
The extraordinary effort made by hope that if restrictions continue to
our health services and many others ease, we may be able to run the Club
in rolling out the vaccination during the October holidays.
programme so successfully is surely
another cause to smile. This has led I am now able to make pastoral
to an easing of restrictions and a visits, and even offer Home
gradual opening up of the economy. Communion. Please let me know if
However, the recent increase in you, or someone you know, would
infections caused by the ‘Delta like a visit. I can be contacted on
variant’ of the virus, initially mobile 07713 101358.
discovered in India, is a cause for
4 Strathdon and Lumsden churches
reopened for communal worship in
April. Both churches are set up in
line with Scottish Government and
Church of Scotland requirements,
which include the use of hand
sanitisation on entrance and exit and
the use of face coverings at all times.
Seating is restricted, so if you do
wish to come to a service, please
contact me to reserve a seat.

We are also now able to sing in If you are unable to access the
church services, although face Facebook Page or the online
coverings must still be worn. recordings, or would like more
information, please get in touch.
All details of services are posted on
the Upper Donside Parish Facebook In the meantime, in these continuing
page, and on church noticeboards challenging times, please find an
and in local shops and garages. opportunity to take a break over the
summer and enjoy yourselves. I very
I’m afraid we are not yet able to much hope that it won’t be too long
resume regular weekly worship in before we are able to meet up.
the churches, but online worship
continues. Weekly services are Stay safe and well, Simon
recorded live and posted on the
Upper Donside Parish Facebook Page Rev Simon Crouch, Locum Minister
and YouTube and are available from 019756 51779 / 07713 101358
6pm on the Sunday evening. scassents@aol.com
______________________________
______________________________
Tractors galore!
The occasion was the annual charity
If you were about on Sunday 6 June Tractor Run, organised by Jim
– a fine sunny day – you might have Grassick. It attracted the highest
noticed a ‘puckle’ tractors on the number of participants since the
road. Seventy-four of them, ranging event started, with farmers from as
from the vintage to the spanking far afield as Brechin and Dufftown
new, in a multitude of colours, participating, and raised £730.00 for
shapes and sizes, drove in convoy local cancer-related charities.
from Donside Tyres Alford by the
Glacks, Strathdon, Glenbuchat, and Well done, lads and lassies! It was
Milton of Kildrummy back to Alford. fantastic to see you!

5

Bee special Most flowers need the weather to
be quite warm and dry in order to
We’ve had an amazing spell of warm produce nectar, and in this sense this
weather that was hugely welcome year has been good. Nectar is a weak
after all the cold… and the honey sugary solution which bees store in
bees are particularly enjoying it. I the comb. To make it into honey, the
successfully hived my first swarm a bees fan air across it to evaporate
in early summer and they are now surplus water. You can hear them
bringing in lots of pollen and nectar. doing this if you listen to a busy hive.
At this time of year the available When I looked recently, I found
pollen is mainly yellow, from gorse some honey almost ready to be
and broom, and pale green from taken off.
hawthorn, rowan and other fruit.
Pollen represents the protein part of Maria Dawson
the bee’s diet, so when you see lots
of bees entering the hive with Bee-ing and Seed-ing (left) and The
orange or yellow or beige dustings Nectar of Transformation (above) by
on their legs, you know the queen is Frances Crawford
busy laying lots of eggs and the
colony is building up well. Warm Strathdon Paths Group
weather is also necessary for flowers
to produce lots of nectar. Rest and be thankful
The local paths group has acquired
6 two new seats! One is already
allocated at an ideal viewpoint on
the track above and behind Bellabeg
shop. If you have any ideas for the
siting of the other, please contact
Chris Tauber (019756 41316 or
christauber38@gmail.com).

We want your views on the Over the summer, we want to hear
Cairngorms National Park your views of the Park. We aim to
speak to as many people as possible,
Our world is changing. Issues ranging face to face and virtually, by visiting
from the impact of Covid-19 to communities (when it is safe to do
Scotland’s climate change so) and hosting online activity. We
commitments, and from the rise in want to give everyone the
staycations to new housing projects opportunity to tell us what they
and business ventures mean that the think, in person, online or with good
next five years will have a profound old-fashioned paper and pen.
impact on those who live, visit and
work in the Cairngorms National As a starting point, we will be asking
Park (CNP). We need your help to questions covering themes such as
shape the future direction of the land use, economic recovery, the
Park in order to ensure our work is climate crisis, tourism, local
focused on the issues that really communities and how to create a
matter. Park for everyone.

This September the CNP Authority This is a crucial time in our lives and
will be running a consultation to we really want to hear your thoughts
gather views for the next Partnership on the issues we face. I would
Plan, the document that directs and encourage everyone to have a say
focuses work taking place across the because the decisions we make now
Park over the next five years. will impact us for years to come.

We last asked people for their views There will be opportunities to give
on the CNP in 2017. In those days we feedback throughout the summer,
were not familiar with the word but one of the easiest ways is to visit
‘Covid-19’ or the concept of cairngormsviews.commonplace.is
‘lockdown’, and the world was still where you will find more
waking up to the realities of a information on all the themes, and a
climate emergency. So much has space to share your thoughts and
changed over the past five years – ideas. If your Internet connection is
for individuals, for businesses, for not so good, you can call
communities – that we are 01479 873535 and ask for a hard
proposing to run some warm-up copy version of the survey questions
exercises over the summer in order to be posted to you.
to get early feedback on what
people are thinking and shape the Eleanor Mackintosh, Donside’s
formal consultation to come. elected board member for the
Cairngorms National Park Authority

7

Lonach Area First Responders supporting the great work of local
defibrillator groups.
As most will be aware, the Lonach
Area First Responders (LAFR) has Climate-ready Strathdon
been inactive for the last few years. ‘Adaption Scotland’ is a project
At a recent EGM, its members
agreed that it would be appropriate started by the Scottish Government
now to dissolve the charity and the (www.adaptionscotland.org.uk) to
group. The resolution was passed, work in collaboration with
the plan approved by the Office of communities to understand and
the Scottish Charity Regulator explore mechanisms required to
(OSCR) and remaining funds donated adapt to the impact of climate
to the Scottish Charity Air change. The project supported by
Ambulance (SC041845) specifically Aberdeenshire Council identified
to support ‘Helimed 79’, which is Strathdon as a diverse geographical
based in Aberdeen. rural community, which may lend
itself to a pilot scheme that involves
The resuscitation mannequins and mutual exploration and which places
mats have been given to the Lonach local priorities and interests at its
Hall Community Association and can heart. Strathdon School and
be used by anyone who wishes to Strathdon Community Development
practise cardiopulmonary Trust have been contacted to help
resuscitation (CPR). with this. A local meeting is being
arranged locally. If you would like to
The defibrillators, kit, oxygen know more, contact
cylinders and jackets will be returned fitsgandoune@gmail.com.
to the Scottish Ambulance Service,
where they can be used by other
responder groups or for training.

We would like to thank everyone in
the community who has supported
the First Responders over the last
15 years, whether as a responder, a
committee member, or by
supporting our fundraising. We hope
that people will continue to support
resuscitation in our community by
participating in local Basic Life
Support and First Aid courses, when
they start again, and also by

8

Donside Community Council Alternatively, you could come along
to one of our meetings. Send an
What is a community council? email or message to obtain a link to
join a meeting online or come along
Community councils are voluntary in person when we start having face-
organisations that serve to speak for to-face meetings again.
their local area. They meet regularly
to discuss issues affecting their area, How can I find out what
including planning and licensing happens at DCC meetings?
applications. All meetings are held in
public and residents are encouraged Minutes of meetings are published
to attend their local meeting. on the DCC Facebook page after they
have been approved
When and where does DCC (https://www.facebook.com/donsid
meet? ecommunitycouncil/). They are also
available in Alford Library in paper
General meetings are held every copy. Meetings are open to the
second Tuesday of the month public. You can get a link by emailing
excluding July and December. or messaging as above or come
Throughout the current restrictions, along in person when we start to
we have held our meetings online. have face-to-face meetings again.
Usually we would meet at Alford
Community Campus, and once or How can I contact DCC or my
twice a year we would hold a representative?
meeting in one of the areas
represented. You can email us at this address
chair@donsidecommunitycouncil.or
Who is my area representative? g.uk or by using Messenger from the
DCC Facebook page.
Paul Toohey is the representative
covering Strathdon, Corgarff and Anne Miller
Glenbuchat. There are currently two Donside Community Council
vacancies in this area. Anne Miller is
the representative for Glenkindie Towie & District Senior
and Towie. There is currently one Citizens Club
vacancy in this area. If you would like
to become a community councillor Hello everyone. I do hope you are all
and wish to find out more about keeping fit and well. We still do not
what is involved, there is lots of know how things are going to sort
information on Aberdeenshire themselves out with regard to COVID
Council’s website: so shall just have to play it by ear for
https://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/ a while longer. We will be in touch as
communities-and- soon as possible.
events/community-councils/.
Eileen Davies

9

Strathdon School News News from the upper stages

The Strathdon School community We had a fantastic summer term
would like to thank Megan Fowlie for back at school, during which we
the excellent job she has done over were busy learning about the
the past three years. We will all miss Highland Clearances. In the course of
her and wish her every success on this, we created and performed our
her travels to Namibia. own play called Campbell
Clearances. It told the story of a
We would also like to thank class crofting family who were forced to
teacher Gemma Ellis, who has been flee their home by the factor and his
marvellous in the early-stages class boss, the laird. The children each
over the past year. played different characters and
dressed up. We then filmed and
We will be welcoming a new teacher edited the play, which is now
next term as we reinvent ourselves available to watch on YouTube!
as an all-stages class and look
forward to introducing them in the
next issue of this newsletter.

Artwork created by Primary 2 and 3 In costume for Campbell Clearances
for inclusion in the Evening Express
and Press & Journal Time Capsule Last term the school was engaged in
a walking challenge in which the
10 children set out to walk a distance

equivalent to the length of Great
Britain, from John o’Groats to Land’s
End (603 miles to be exact). We did
this by each walking a mile every
day. Here we are on our final day of
our challenge.

Last term we also completed our
Level 1 and Level 2 Bike Ability
training. Here are the P5s and P7s
who completed Level 2.

As part of this challenge, P4–7 added
in some more miles by completing a
walk up Ben Newe. We took part in
team-building and mountain safety
activities along the way and we all
made it to the summit!

School Eco Group gets
down to business

Our Eco Group has been tackling the
issue of dog poo on the community
path that runs behind the school. We
walk on this path every day as part
of our daily mile.

However, the path is beset by dog
poo, and lots of it. We have made
posters and put them up along the
path and are hoping to have a dog
poo bin erected nearby.

Dog walkers, please help us keep the
path clean!

11

Bennachie Masons distribute funds

Cruel climb After a Christmas raffle organised by
Pull up the powerful peak three of its members, the Strathdon
The Mither Tap where you can see Masonic Lodge was able to donate
right to the coast £500 to each of three local groups.
Close kin dwelling in the Pictish fort;
Receiving their cheques were Dr Poul
My peat ash ancestor in her torque Ipson for the Strathdon Surgery
of gold Equipment Fund, Liam Eddie for the
Gathering blaeberries and time on Lonach Hall, and Gill Cook for the
this cold expanse of hill Silver Circle Strathdon. Many thanks
Knotted down through the ages are due to those who organised and
Her language to become took part in the raffle that enabled
A girl giving names to places these donations.
Chapel of Garioch, Rothienorman, For more information regarding the
Old Meldrum, Burnhervie, the sea. Strathdon Masonic Lodge, please
email 1358rwm@gmail.com.
Arabella Wallace (1971–2021)
Lonach Hall Community Association
North East Open Studios
The Lonach Hall is one of the finest
Arts event open 11–19 September halls in Scotland and a venue much
admired by visitors. Its committee is
Local open studios include that of looking for people with a variety of
textile artist Mahri Prince at talents, skills and expertise. In
Heughhead, Strathdon. particular, anyone with secretarial
skills would be most welcome. If you
A group exhibition at Glenbuchat are interested in joining the
Hall will include ceramics by Maria committee, please contact Liam
Dawson and Wullie Primrose, Eddie, Chairperson, on
weaving by Roger Sanders, textile 07547 713793.
work by Audrey Riach and Laura
Bleck, paintings by Sue Macintosh
and Frances Crawford, mixed media
painting and assemblage by Isobel
Gilchrist, woodwork by Alistair
Dawson and Alistair McKenzie,
photography by Kate Friday,
metalwork by Julia Cowie,
embroidery by Mia Buehr and glass
art by Ginger Keogh.

12

Huntly & District Swift Group evenings. Of particular interest are
birds circling in screaming parties at
Swifts are returning from their roof level or lower, which may occur
African wintering grounds in ever- near nest sites. Swifts may be seen
decreasing numbers. A British Trust entering nest holes in a building
for Ornithology (BTO) survey below screaming parties, or may be
indicates a 60% decline in Scotland in heard calling from inside the nest as
recent years. Help is sought to count others swoop past looking for
swift numbers and find out where vacancies.
they are nesting in order to protect If you notice numbers of swifts in the
current nest sites and create more vicinity of suitable nest sites,
nesting opportunities. particularly screaming parties at roof
level or lower, please contact
Swifts depend entirely on small holes Richard Burn by email at
in buildings, and cracks behind rwburn@btinternet.com. If you are
guttering or under eaves for their interested surveying yourself, or
nest sites. Most people don’t know want to find out about swift nest
whether they have swifts nesting in boxes, contact Cally at
their homes because the nests are huntlyswiftgroup@gmail.com.
barely noticeable from the building You can also find event updates at
facade. Even builders and roofers Facebook/huntlyswiftgroup.
may be unaware of nest sites. Each Here are some brief guides to
time building repairs are carried out identifying swifts, swallows and
and entrance holes filled, another martins:
nest is lost. The demolishing of a https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-
building that housed swifts wildlife/wildlife-
represents another colony lost. guides/birdwatching/how-to-
Swifts pair for life and return to the identify-birds/swift-swallow-or-
same nest every year. If their nest is martin/
gone, they may not breed that https://www.youtube.com/watch?v
season. =8WzxTnfG2qA

The Huntly & District Swift Group 13
hopes to engage other interested
people in surveying and raising
awareness in their own areas.

The time of interest is May, June and
July, but early June to mid-July is the
peak survey time. The best time to
survey is early morning or around
dusk, especially on warm dry

Fit’s fer denner 1 tsp bicarb
1/4 tsp salt
I’ve been making muffins lately with 250 ml buttermilk (or full cream milk
excess items from my ‘panic pantry’, or milk mixed with some yogurt or
in which I found a fair amount of kefir)
tinned fruit to use up and loads of 1 egg
muesli/granola. The first recipe is an 175 g brown sugar
oldie and is in cups – I just use a 80 ml vegetable oil
teacup as a measure. 250 g granola (or any kind of muesli)

Apricot wholewheat muffins Use the same method as for the
wholewheat muffins, but note that
1 tin fruit (apricots, fruit cocktail, the granola muffins take a little
mango, peaches – anything really) longer to bake (25 mins approx.).
A few chopped apricots (or raisins or
seeds/nuts) Noting that both recipes are happy
1 cup self-raising flour to use buttermilk, I’ve been making
3/4 cup wholemeal flour cultured butter a lot lately. It’s so
1 tsp each baking powder and bicarb easy. Just leave a big bowl of cream
Pinch of dried ginger (and/or at room temperature with a little live
cinnamon) yogurt or kefir (finished stuff, not
1/3 cup brown sugar grains) for 48+ hours. It will thicken,
1 egg sour slightly and possibly bubble a
1/4 cup vegetable oil little. Mix with an electric hand mixer
1/2 cup milk (or buttermilk) until the butter separates from the
butter milk. Drain, reserving the
Preheat oven to 190°C. Grease or buttermilk. Then the butter needs to
add paper liners to 12 muffin cups. be thoroughly rinsed in very cold
Drain the fruit well and puree. Mix water several times, until the water
with all other ingredients until is clear. Squeeze it well with your
smooth. Spoon into muffin cups and hands. Finally, press it into a bowl or
bake for 15–20 min or until a roll into balls and wrap and freeze.
toothpick comes out clean (I like to
sprinkle a bit of demerara or barista Just a note – if anyone needs any
sugar on top of each before baking). kombucha scobies, I’ve got loads! It's
so easy to make – all you need is a
Granola muffins scoby, tea and water...

225 g plain flour (you can use self- Sally Scott
raising if you omit the bicarb) greatscotts@waitrose.com

14

Duivekater 100 g light soft brown sugar
(Pronounced Dow-ve-kater, sort of) zest of one lemon
1 tsp ground star anise
This sweet bread is a traditional treat 1 egg lightly beaten
from the area north of Amsterdam,
called the Zaanstreek. The origin of Method
this bread and its name are
explained in several stories, but my 1. Dissolve the yeast in half the milk,
favourite is the one that involves 50 g of the flour and 1/2 tsp of the
pagan tribes which used to sacrifice sugar. Let this rest until you see
cats to ward off the devil. To save some bubbles.
the cat of a beautiful girl, her clever
suitor came up with the idea of 2. Put the rest of the flour and the salt
baking a bread in the shape of a in a large bowl and make a well. Dip
bone and offering this to the gods in the yeast mixture and the rest of
instead. He won his damsel’s heart, the milk. Mix well.
married her and lived happily ever
after, eating Duivekater every day! 3. Add the butter, the rest of the sugar,
lemon zest, half the beaten egg and
Some bakers in the Zaanstreek still the ground star anise. Mix through.
create bone-shaped loaves with
elaborate motifs. My husband asked 4. On a worktop lightly dusted with
me when the Dutch eat this special flour, knead all this by hand for
bread, to which I should have about 15 min, or until the dough is
replied: ‘At Easter or Christmas’. satin-smooth.
Instead, I said, ‘Whenever they like!’
5. Form into a smooth ball and place in
Ingredients a lightly oiled bowl to prove. Cover
and leave in a warm room for 2
500 g strong white flour hours.
200 ml lukewarm milk
7 g instant yeast (or 20 g fresh yeast) 6. Form an oval of 25–30 cm. Cut
1 tsp salt motifs with a sharp knife if desired.
50 g butter, melted and cooled
7. Place the dough on a baking tray
lightly dusted with flour, cover again
and let it rise for another 45 min.

8. Pre-heat oven to 200˚C (180˚C fan).
9. Brush the dough with the remainder

of the egg and bake for about
30 min. The baking time depends on
the thickness of the bread. If you tap
it, it should sound hollow.
10. Cool on a rack for about 20 min.
11. Lightly butter a slice and enjoy!

Nicole Carr

15

Steve’s garden matters Horses use our roads too

Hoe, hoe, hoe, is the message of It’s not common to see horses
summer… so dig up any perennial ridden around the glens of
weeds. Getting rid of the weeds Strathdon, but as more folk bring
before they flower and set seed will riding horses and ponies into the
pay great dividends next year. area, it’s important that people are
prepared for their presence. My
Leave planks out between vegetable pony Eddie and I are hoping to
rows and search during the day for discover tracks in the glen this
slugs that hide beneath them as they summer, but we need to ride on
wait to feast on your young some roads to access the tracks.
seedlings. Forays on damp evenings Horses are flight animals and are
are also a very good idea. easily scared, even by pheasants
flying out of the grass, so Eddie and I
Sow catch crops in and around larger wear hi-viz clothing so that we can
slow-growing veg. Sow salad leaves, be seen from a distance. We would
lettuce and rocket, which will still do love very much just to be safe, so
well. It’s not too late to sow main please pass us nice and slowly on
crop peas such as Hurst Green Shaft these narrow, twisty roads!!
and globe beetroot; you could
perhaps try Bolthardy. With a big thank you, Pauline (and
Eddie) Young
This is also the time to sow spring
greens for next year. If you can,
plant them on into a greenhouse or
polytunnel for an earlier crop in
spring.

Prop and support tall flowers such as
delphiniums and hollyhocks. Prune
any shrubs that have finished
flowering, but check for nesting birds
first!

Try not to cut your grass too short as
you mow as this will only encourage
moss.

Finally, foliar feed with a seaweed-
based liquid feed every week to reap
the rewards of a vibrant garden.

Steve Campbell
16

Dear Constance distance between the hugger and
the huggee. For example: at the
Our readers write in with their default 2 metres separation, 4
dilemmas… seconds is probably ample. At 8
metres, 16 seconds is allowable, but
R. I. P. VanBuchat might look a little weird. And at 50
Dear Constance, Lockdown has at centimetres (a) it’s not allowed and
long last given me the opportunity to (b) more than 5 seconds puts you
clean out my freezer and, in the firmly into ‘Pest’ territory.
bottom, to my delight, I found a
roadkill rabbit I stored there in 2008. Relationship nerves
Any recipe recommendations?
Dear Constance, I’m a two-year-old,
Answer: I’d try a simple fricassée, cooped up single hen, recently
avec ou sans fur, with a glass of released from bird flu lockdown. I’ve
chilled Chapoutier Ermitage De started a new relationship with a
L’Oréal Blanc. Bon appetit! (Watch handsome cock pheasant who has
out for pesky bone shards!) promised me wild times in the great
outdoors. I’m so excited, but I’ve got
Doh!! a nagging feeling that come spring,
Dear Constance, My home-made he’ll lose interest. What should I do?
sourdough bread smells faintly of
acetone and has a slight pink hue. Constance writes: Don’t worry about
What am I doing wrong? the future. Enjoy your new love
while you can. I can’t see it going
Constance writes: In my experience much beyond October.
it’s always better to let your nail
varnish dry before kneading… Carburettor conundrum

To hug… or not…? Dear Constance, My Yamaha YZF-
Dear Constance, I really love giving R1M sport bike is running a bit rough
all my friends and people I meet between 7,000 and 9,000 revs and I
great big air hugs. What would you suspect the carb settings are slightly
say is the maximum length of time adrift. I’ve set the idle speed screw
appropriate? by backing it out until it’s not in
contact with the throttle stop lever.
Constance writes: What strange I’ve cycled the linkage to check that
times we live in. Air hugs are a tricky it closes without assistance, but
one, but modern etiquette suggests should I back the idling screw back in
that the length of hug time is contact with the lever, or continue
inversely proportional to the out to the full one and a half turns?

Constance writes: Yes.

17

Walking in Corgarff opportunity if you feel like stopping
and it’s worth exploring the spot for
Summer is the best time to walk in a while and checking the views
Corgarff, but if you don't feel like eastwards from the other side of the
tackling the bigger hills like Cairn woods, before continuing. At the
Oighreag or Cairn Vaich, there is a corner of the woods, go straight on
slightly lower-level alternative that downhill southward towards
still gives you the feeling of being Cairnlea Hill. Here you will find huge
closer to the skies. open landscapes and spacious views.
When you see a crossroads of tracks,
Start at the Tornahaish forest track take the one to the right (a good
entrance on the left about 0.5 km landrover track). Follow this, skirting
from the Corgarff/Ballater junction. the hillside to your left and passing
The track is a rough and stony at first two corries on your right. When you
due to forestry work, but keep going. are almost round the second corrie,
look for a smaller heathery track that
The track becomes easier as it levels branches off at an angle and leads
out and opens up, coming closer to downhill to your right. Take this
the river Don (on your left). After track, which descends rapidly
20–25 min you will find yourself in towards the forest through lovely
an open part of the track level with old juniper bushes and mossy heath.
the river, with some small deciduous Pass through a wooden gate and
trees to your left, and a couple of wind down through old woodland to
smaller grassy paths branching off to the original forest track.
the right. Take the second of these. Turn left back to the start. (2 hours)
It climbs steadily uphill, rising above
the forest to your left and levelling Frances Denerley
out as it skirts the hill to your right.
When you come to an ancient stone
dyke with built-in butts coming
downhill from the right (approx.
25 min), take the path off to the
right immediately past the dyke and
head steeply uphill keeping the dyke
to your right until you meet a small
patch of Scots pine woodland at the
top of the hill, Tom a Bhuraich.

Turn right there, go through the
dyke and skirt the edge of the woods
to your left. This is a good picnic

18

Strathdon Walking Group 2021 Glenbuchat defib riddle

18 July – Craig Glas and Bonlee Hill, Thanks to all who took part in the
4 hours. Contact Roger. Meet in competition published in our last
quarry on A97 (ref. 414094) issue. Your entries contributed to
10.30 am the purchase of consumables for the
Glenbuchat defibrillator and raised a
1 August – Lord Arthurs Hill total of £119.00!
3+ hours. Contact Helen and Ian.
Meet at Tulloch on A944 The answer was Burn O’Vat (or just
(ref.524173) 10.30 am the Vat).

15 August – Pressendye 3+ hours. The lucky winners were Steve
Contact Christine and David. Meet: Cameron, who won the first prize of
to be arranged a bottle of Single Malt Glen Keith,
John Bolland, who won the second
29 August – coastal walk to be prize of a bottle of Yealands
arranged. Contact Gavin Sauvignon Blanc, and Mike Morrison,
who won the third prize of an Easter
12 September– Creag an Eunan from Egg.
Rinmore, 4 hours. Contact Roger.
Meet in quarry above Rinmore (ref. All winners have been notified by
411173) email.

Contact numbers __________________________________________________________________

Gavin 019756 51798 Flame Boiler Services Ltd. Service
and repair of oil and biomass heating
Roger 019756 51278 systems and oil Agas, oil tank
replacements, system flushes.
Zelda 019756 51351 flameboilerservices@gmail.com.

Helen and Ian 07971 648783 __________________________________________________________________

Christine and David 019755 71708 Plan A Electrical. All types of
electrical installation work,
__________________________________________________________________ inspection and testing (including PAT
and EICR), cabling. 07535 312759,
Alford Recycling Centre contact@planaelectrical.com.

…. is now open! __________________________________________________________________
Mondays 9 am to 4.30 pm
Fridays 9 am to 4 pm Sarah Calderwood Pest Control.
Saturdays and Sundays: 9 am to General pest control. 07701 346066,
4.30 pm info@sgcenvironmental.co.uk
To book a slot, ring Wasteline on
03456 081207 or book online at Plan A. __________________________________________________________________
Aberdeenshire Council’s website.
19

Glenkindie Central Garage & Shop

Vehicle servicing, MOTs, grocery store, PO inc road tax, fuel (019756 41230)

Mon–Fri: 8 am to 5 pm; Sat: 8 am to 2 pm; Sun: 10 am to 12.30 pm

DELIVERY SERVICE AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED IT

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Goodbrand & Ross Corgarff, tearoom, gift shop, outdoor seating, daily 10 am

to 4 pm. (019756 51433, www.goodbrandandross.co.uk)

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Lecht Ski Centre Opens 7 July, Wed–Sun: 9 am to 4.30 pm. Café, chairlift,

mountain bike tracks (019756 51412)

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Spar Bellabeg Licensed grocery and post office (019756 51211)

Mon–Sat: 8 am to 6 pm; Sun: 10 am to 2 pm

DELIVERY SERVICE AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED IT

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Steading Bar Opening hours: Fri 4–11 pm; Sat 12 noon to 11 pm; Sun 12 noon

to 8 pm. (019756 51497) Lonach Alternative Weekender 26–29 August

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Strathdon Medical Centre Surgery opening hours: Mon, Wed, Fri 9 am to

6 pm, Tues and Thurs 9 am to 1 pm. (019756 51209)

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Fish'n' Chips 2 Go 4–6.30 pm on third Monday of the month at Bellabeg

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

George’s Fresh Fish Wednesdays at 2–2.45 pm at Glenkindie and 3–3.30 pm
at Bellabeg. (07732 118885, georgemcconnachie10@hotmail.co.uk)


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