AUCHTERARDER TIMES

 

 

 

 

 

From the Editor....

 

 

I am writing this on the last day of October.  After the early morning frost it is a beautiful day here in Tullibardine.  Some of the trees are clinging tenaciously to their leaves; an amazing variety of birds are still visiting the garden and the sun is shining more brightly than on many days in our so-called summer.  A few days ago we were in North Yorkshire where one of the delights was the abundance of small towns and villages with their weekly markets where we admired the amazing variety of fresh fruit and vegetables being sold.  In this issue Carol Wilson, one of our regular contributors and whom I was delighted to meet on her recent trip to Perthshire, writes about the produce available at the Perth Farmer’s market (see details of these on the events page).  Locally we are fortunate enough to have the Fig Tree Deli, which stocks a wide variety of locally produced food and now carries over 20 Scottish cheeses in addition to the freshly baked bread.

 

This edition carries many of our regular features including articles from Rob Packham, who writes about back-pain, Scott Lescak, who encourages us to have a green winter and Mike Cranston with his Art News.  New contributors include Marlene White and Adele Hamilton from Integro, with an article entitled “You are what you wear”.  Lumia in Bridge of Allan – a new health & beauty spa – also makes its debut appearance in the magazine, as does énergie for women, a new fitness and weight-loss studio in the Glenruthven Mills, where other offices and studio spaces are now available.

 

HiTecHomes – another local business – offers a unique service in providing a range of individually tailored digital services and BrokenWindowz gives professional IT support for those with computer problems.  You will also find details of where to eat out or hold that special celebration in some local hotels and restaurants - the Sunday carvery at the Glendevon Hotel is certainly worth a try. The Niblick now has both a lunchtime and evening menu and the Cairn Lodge provides an excellent location for that special event.  Not far away, the Dunblane Hydro is offering great deals on its Party Nights and Barleybree in Muthill continues to provide a  great fine-dining experience.

 

You will find more businesses and services than ever featured in our own ‘yellow pages’ in the business directory and news of local organisations and events in this edition.  The Auchterarder Churches Together give you a warm welcome to the special Christmas services being held in the local churches.

 

Regular advertisers include Watson Hogg with its fantastic range of cashmere and quality clothes for both ladies and gentlemen and Whispers, with its extensive selection of lingerie—making it an ideal place for all men to find a special Christmas present—and a personal service for all women.  Plenty of ideas for Christmas gifts and cards can be found in Purple Hays and Adorn carries a wide stock of gifts for the home, while Minor Masterpieces offer a unique service for turning your children’s art into unique gifts.

  

Health Care can also be found no further than our own High Street with total eye care from R S Erskine and dental care for the whole family at Sandy McChesneys.  

 

MyHome Services offer a professional service to householders who want help with cleaning – either for a one-off deep clean or a regular cleaning schedule.  Although the housing market is suffering you will find plenty of property still at Next Homes and Earn View Homes have some amazing properties at their Ochil View development.  In addition to its well-known service for local building supplies, Stewarts Building Services offer a wide range of do-it-yourself supplies and have a special pre-Christmas promotion of both power and hand tools in their store at Tullibardine.

 

As usual Bennybeg nursery has a great range of Christmas trees as well as other trees and shrubs for planting during the winter months and at Kare Gardens Design you can find help in designing and planning your own garden.  Agri-Fab continues to expand its range of services and it supplies steel fabrication throughout Central Scotland.  Another new business, Rapid Tyre Service, offers a valuable mobile tyre service and David Lindsay storage now offer an expanded local service at East Third in Tullibardine for all your storage needs.

 

Tullibardine Distillery at Blackford has a gift shop well worth visiting—and a spacious café for that welcome cuppa.  The Ruthven Gallery in Auchterarder has a fine Winter Exhibition running until Christmas with a warm welcome for all art-lovers and another place to find that very special gift.

 

We now receive so many expressions of appreciation for the Auchterarder Times from local residents and visitors alike and I am sure this issue will not disappoint.  Christmas—despite the credit crunch and all the rather depressing news on the TV and in our newspapers—continues to be that season of hope when we remember how Light came into the darkness of the world.  In these dark times may you know joy and peace in your life this Christmas.

David Tate, editor.