Win an 8 week block of Pony Club from Gleneagles Equestrian School

Win! Win! Win!

To enter visit: www.lovelocalmag.com

Possibly the most fun your child can have…

Join like-minded children in weekly 90 minute sessions and learn how to ride, groom, tack up and look after ponies.

One lucky winner will enjoy:

Riding lessonsStable management sessions covering all aspects of how to care for horses and ponies

Regular dressage and show jumping shows to compete inMaking friends (equine and human) and having fun!!

Pony Club runs in 8 week blocks with short breaks for the school holidays and we suggest children come for an initial assessment lesson so we can advise them which group they

Contact The Activities School on 01764 694344 for more information on Centre Pony Club or go online at:

www.gleneagles.com/activities/equestrian-school/centre-pony-club-at-gleneagles

Terms and Conditions:The value of this prize is over £200, consisting of 8 weekly 90 minute sessions of Pony Club, and a waiving of the Junior membership for the duration of the block. Children aged 6-18yrs are eligible to win. Pony Club classes run on Saturdays and Sundays, the group the winning child will join will be determined by their age and experience. This prize is non-transferable and must be redeemed by Dec 2014.

Contents 03

Country Castle Hotel Review

Ross Miller Interview

Vegan Quinoa Scones Recipe

Gluten Recipes

Gluten: the good, the bad, the coeliac

Ayurveda and the Doshas

Stirling’s Sporting Stars

Fitness Myths

Eye on Tweed Fashion

Back To School Health

Tartan, Tweed and Thistle Interior Design

Solar Power Buying Tips

Your Pets and Fireworks

Local Love

Wedding Weight Loss

07

09

11

14

15

17

18

19

22

29

32

34

41

42

46

Eat Drink Stay..

Home Sweet Home

Look Good Feel Good.

Active Life

Pets

Get in touch karen@lovelocalmag.com

lovelocalmag

@lovelocalmag

lovelocalmag.com

FRONT COVER: Photographer: HAMISH CAMPBELL. Hair & Make up Artist: AMY IRVING. Styling: KRISTINA ANTANAITYTE. Model: KRISTINA ANTANAITYTE from COLOURS AGENCY

Weddings

Knock Castle Beauty Membership Carol LaingDinner at Café Continental Lynne HawleyOvernight Stay at Grange Manor Anne HaleFamily Pass to BTCC at Knockhill James Cassie2 Lady Boys of Bangkok Tickets

Mike Grattan

Love Local Winners

Magazine owned and edited by: Karen Tully, KST Marketing Ltd. Magazine designed by: Karen Tully and James Harrop. Printed by: printing.com Stirling

Local Life04

Our online poll started off as a bit of fun, however it ended up drawing nearly 500

votes and ended up hard fought and close race. Cisco’s supporters voted in force in the crucial last few days to get over the line ahead of close chasers The Woodhouse and Toast. Regardless of who came out top on the poll, all Stirling’s local coffee shops offer excellent hot drinks, pastries and ambiance.

We are two passionate professionals with a long history in pubs, hotels and

restaurants, it is our aim to share our love of food and drink and help secure the future of the communities and businesses that help sustain us. We are committed to protecting and nurturing our local economy and preserving our countryside and heritage.

Since taking over The Stirling Arms on Dunblane High Street, we have been working hard to transform the building into a truly special pub, restaurant and coffee house.

It has always been a dream of ours to have a place where people can come to enjoy great local food and drink in a welcoming atmosphere and the Riverside is the realisation of that dream.

Stirlingshire and Perthshire are home to a wealth of incredible food, producers,

The Riverside Loves Local BY OWNERS, JO & STUbreweries and distilleries and we want to make the most of what is on our doorstep.We want to know where our food and drink comes from and we want to know the people who produce and supply it. Because of this we source the majority of our food from producers and suppliers within Stirlingshire,

Perthshire and West Lothian.

Primarily, our buying policy is based on our intention to source the best quality we can, while minimising our impact on the environment

and helping to keep jobs, and as much of the money we spend as possible, within local communities.

believe that every penny we spend will help to make our local and national economy not only stronger, but help to secure a more sustainable future for generations to come.

www.theriversidedunblane.co.uk

WINNER OF LOVE LOCAL MAGAZINE’S ONLINE POLL FOR BEST COFFEE SHOP

Eat Drink Stay.. 05

Eat Drink Stay..06

Date: 14th September Time: 11am - 4pm Where: Old Town Jail, Stirling For: food lovers, friends and

families

Creative Stirling CIC and Loving Food are proud to present Feast-ival as part of the Stirling Fringe Festival.

An ideal day out for families, foodies and friends at the Old Town Jail in Stirling.

You will be able to sample some of the best street food around, with food and drink demonstrations throughout the day and get involved in our collaborative cooking extravaganza.

“FEAST-IVAL” A Stirling Fringe EventBROUGHT TO YOU BY CREATIVE STIRLING AND LOVING FOOD

There will be a programme of children’s creative workshops, and a cinema inside

one of the jail cells.

Plus, live music from the likes of Jack Butler, Tom Foolery, Steven Kemp and Puff Uproar and the Shimmering Sound Affair.

This is a FREE event, toreserve tickets head to

www.csfeastival.eventbrite.com

For more details on Loving Foodvisit www.loving-food.com

For more details of Creative Stirlingvisit www.creativestirling.org

Eat Drink Stay.. 07

I’d heard a lot of good things about Knock Caste Hotel and Spa in Crieff, so it seemed

an ideal choice to celebrate a family occasion and an opportunity to check it out for myself.

Dating from the 1880s and built as a family home by Lady MacBrayne, Knock Castle has been sympathetically extended and more recently extensively refurbished to offer a comfortably sized 30 plus bed-roomed hotel.

from not being part of a chain and is privately owned by the Henderson family. Jason Henderson is an enthusiastic (and talkative!) chef/proprietorwho shows an almost evangelical commitment to his project.

We booked 3 rooms for dinner, bed and breakfast. The rooms could not be faulted, particularly the two in the original turret

bathrooms in slate and stone, built around an elevated bath set into the turret walls. Very unique.

The hotel has a choice of dining options, a cosy, slightly more formal dining room with traditional Victorian grandeur on the ground

panoramic views of the Strathearn Valley and has an outdoor terrace for summer months. Although the menu here is, in theory, table d’hôte the hotel should be congratulated on not being fussy allowing guests to mix and match between this and the a la carte.

Country Castle Review BY LOVE LOCAL’S TRAVEL EXPERT

Since it was a special occasion we opted for the 7 course tasting menu. It was simply excellent, ably supported by the front of house staff whose style was relaxed rather than fussy and engaging without being overbearing. Any minor hiccups were quickly addressed by the ever attentive maître d.

Although food was a big part of a stay here, the hotel also offered spa treatments and a

swimming pool, sauna, steam-room, and well-equipped gym located in a large glasshouse in the gardens. The only constructive criticism I can make is for new locker keys, some more plants for the pool area and to turn the heating down a little! If you’re not so active the hotel has a comfortable piano lounge, cosy whisky bar and a unique 12- seater cinema!

Overall Knock Castle is not

cheap but for the quality it offers it is far more accessible than many of the other up market country hotels. It offers a good balance between friendly but unfussy service, high quality accommodation and excellent food with value for money.

I can’t knock it!

The Knock Castle HotelDrummond Terrace, Crieff PH7 4ANTel: 01764 650088E: info@knockcastle.comwww.knockcastle.com

Eat Drink Stay..08

Eat Drink Stay.. 09

At the age of 22 with a burning passion

for cooking, Ross left university to pursue a career in the restaurant industry. He began his journey working for some of Scotland’s top chefs including the award winning Martin Wishart. Determination led Ross to London in search of new

Gordon Ramsay. Ross then joined the team at London’s prestigious Le Gavroche restaurant

to be awarded one, two and three Michelin stars. The La Gavroche chef de cuisine is Michel Roux Jr, who took over the reins from his father, Albert in 1991.

When he returned to Scotland, Ross was warmly welcomed back to the kitchen of Martin Wishart where he continued to work for a further 3 years. He then landed the prestigious Head Chef position at the Michelin starred Champany Inn near Linlithgow. At the age of 25, Ross demonstrated his abilities in the kitchen by retaining the restaurant’s Michelin star.

Ross has since gone on to lead many successful kitchens with his cuisine described as “a masterpiece” by The Scotsman’s food writer. In an exclusive interview, Ross explains why he is delighted to be working in Dunblane, as part of the Cafe Continental Executive Team.

Interview with Ross MillerEXECUTIVE HEAD CHEF, CAFE CONTINENTAL IN DUNBLANE

Ross, why Dunblane?

There are many that thought that Dunblane could not sustain a venture of this type, but we knew from what the customers of Dunblane were saying that they were crying out for a local restaurant that also offered a larger scale cafe type environment as well has higher end product. Many Dunblane residents found themselves leaving the community and

they were after. Clearly there is a requirement in Dunblane for this type of restaurant.

So how’s it going?

It’s been great how the community has embraced us. We’re pretty much full every day. We’re pretty much full every day. It’s

an entire new team - almost all local, going through the training process and maintaining standards of excellence at all times. I think we’ve mostly accomplished that and we look forward to getting better and better.

What’s your most popular dish?

OK, that’s a tough one - most of our products are equally popular. People love our Croque Monsieur - telling us it’s better than they’ve tried in France, so that’s a real compliment. Equally though, we have a large early following for great coffee and patisserie options.

Ross and his team serve customers 7 days a week from 9am until late.

Situated in the heart of Dunblane at:

Riverview, High Street, Dunblane FK15 0EETel: 01786 824 234www.cafe-continental.co.uk

‘It’s been great how the community has embraced us. We’re pretty much full every day.’

Eat Drink Stay..10

Eat Drink Stay.. 11

Seasonal RecipesVEGAN QUINOA SCONES

Ingredients

5 tablespoons cooked quinoa

2 teaspoons baking powder1/2 teaspoon salt1/4 cup non-hydrogenated margarine1 tablespoon coarse polenta1/2 cup buttermilk (made from 1/2 cup soya milk with 1/2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar and left to rest for 5-10 minutes)1/4 cup dried fruit3 tablespoons agave syrup

Method

1. Preheat oven to 200C or gas mark 62.

in a bowl, add margarine and rub into dry ingredients

3. Stir in quinoa and polenta4. In a separate bowl mix buttermilk, dried

fruit and agave syrup5. Pour into dry ingredients and mix until

you get a soft dough6. Drop onto baking sheet (makes about 8

scones)7. Bake for 15-20 minutes until golden

Eat Drink Stay..12

20% OFF FOOD

Eat Drink Stay.. 13

Eat Drink Stay..14

INGREDIENTS

1kg x Lamb Mince (approx. 6x 6oz burgers)1x large white onion2x Tbsp minced garlic

chilli sauce1x lamb stock cube2x pinches of ground cinnamon1x bunch coriander1x large free range egg1x lemonGluten free bunsOlive oil for cooking

Seasonal Recipes GLUTEN FREE SPICED LAMB BURGER

METHOD

1. Dice the onion and sauté off in a pan with a glug of olive oil until soft.

2. Add the garlic & chilli, stock cube, cinnamon and lemon to the pan. Cook on a low heat for around 5 mins or until the stock cube has dissolved. Set aside to cool.

3. Put mince into a mixing bowl, add some chopped coriander, the egg & the onion mixture and mix well

4. Form 6 burger patties from the mix then cook as you prefer (fry, grill or BBQ)

5. Serve with a fresh herb salad, and gluten free bun. Add cheese and bacon too for that extra treat!

INGREDIENTS

Filling:6x large braeburn apples, cored (leave peel on for more) cut into wedges.200g x fresh blueberries1x 1” piece of ginger, peel and grate1x lime – zest and juice70gx muscavado sugar70gx castor sugar4x tbsp. fresh apple juice

Topping:

150g cubed butter (or soya spread) 1 pinch of cinnamon140g muscavado sugar1 pinch of salt

METHOD

1. Pre-heat oven to 180c/350f/gas mark 4

2.a wide based saucepan & cook on a medium heat until apples are just starting to go soft.

3. Take off heat and transfer mix to an oven proof dish.

4. In a bowl place all the topping ingredients and rub together by hand until they become a nice bread crumb like consistency.

5.simply place in oven.

6. Crumble should be ready after approx. 30 mins – or when the topping is nice and golden brown.

7. Serve with your choice of homemade custard, cream or ice cream.

GLUTEN FREE APPLE, BLUEBERRY & GINGER CRUMBLE

15Active Life

Gluten is something that has been getting a lot of publicity lately and like

confusion as to which side of the fence you should land on and support. Do we ignore gluten as long as we’re not coeliac (a disease whereby sufferers cannot tolerant any gluten consumption) and carry on as before? OR, do we take on board the gluten free lifestyle to eradicate it completely from our daily consumption?

I’ll take what may be perceived as the easy way out and opt to sit on the fence on this should you/shouldn’t you topic. I’ll explain why I don’t see this as clear as black and white,

that clear cut anyway.

Firstly, what is gluten?It’s an elastic protein found in wheat, grains, rye and barley. There are four main proteins; albumins, glutelins, globulins, and prolamins. Gluten will be found in pasta,

cereals.

“But protein’s good” you might say?Yes, but not these bad boys. When you ingest any product that contains gluten your digestive system looks at the unusable protein, scratches its head & ponders, “What are we meant to do with this?” It has a very low NPU (net protein usage) rating & more

within your digestive tract.

What is coeliac disease?It is a strong immune reaction to gluten from the digestive tract, which will result in suffering from the following symptoms; low energy

Gluten: The good, the bad and the coeliacBY TIM MEADOWS

levels and feeling tired, IBS - irritable bowel syndrome, stomach cramps, osteoporosis, infertility & depression.

coeliac and I shouldn’t worry about gluten consumption.”

Well this is where I take my sit on the fence standpoint. On a scale of 1-10, 1 being tolerant & 10 being extremely intolerant i.e coeliac, everyone has different intolerances ranging between 1 & 10. Now, no matter where you sit on the scale you will have

It just depends how severely your body reacts to it, even if you don’t display any physical conditions named above it is still causing

system and body.

“So, what should I do”?My recommendation is to remove gluten from your diet where possible. Biggest offenders are bread, pasta and baked goods (pastries etc) and replace with better carb sources like quinoa, sweet potato & rice. A lot of my clients

improvements in energy levels, blood glucose maintenance and reduced IBS symptoms, as well as experiencing a healthier and cleaner feeling to their daily routines, and none were diagnosed coeliac. So we’re not thinking gluten free, if you’re coeliac you’ll be doing this already, but gluten-less. I am realistic, gluten is everywhere due to its use in baking & processed foods, but if you can make better food choices you will improve your health and well being with minimal fuss and expense.

For more information, check out these sites

www.gluternative.comwww.glutenfree-foods.co.uk

Healthy eating isn’t solely about the kcals & macros you consume, but more importantly the quality and affect your food has on your body. Digestive tract health is an important chain in gaining the most from your better food choices.

16 Active Life

17Active Life

Ayurveda is the science of life, ancient Indian text gives us this knowledge to

maintain mental and physical wellbeing and vitality. In Ayurveda we use different foods to nourish our individual body type, known as our Dosha. Determining your constitution (Dosha) can be complex, but some general rules can be used to give you a little taste of where I am going with all of this. I will focus this issue on one of the main problems of the western world, good digestion!

When our digestive structure is interfered with or disturbed, it will transfer its imbalance to our mind and body, therefore affecting our ability to perform at our optimum level. Our minds become distracted and we can feel tired, agitated, sluggish and even depressed by it all. It has all sorts of issues which manifest in different ways for each individual depending on their own eating pattern and food choices. Additives and fast foods of todays “go faster” lifestyle has led to an increased health problem and for some havoc being wreaked on our lives.

What is my Dosha type?

Below is a very rough guide for you to look at, you may recognise traits mostly for one, or you may have a dual dosha or even a tri dosha, identifying some traits from two or all three descriptions.

Vata : very tall or petite and slim build, have drier skin, active minds and dietary habits are irregular. Disease rules the nervous system, poor sleep, constipation and irregular menstruation in women. Avoid cold drinks and dry foods like crackers and raw foods (salads) which aggravate these people. Warm foods, soups, sweet, oily and dairy foods are great. Digestive herbs are cardamom, fennel and cumin. These soothe this persons digestion and therefore their mind.

Pitta : athletic build, competitive, a fast digestion and oilier skin. Disease shows as high blood pressure, excessive thirst,

Ayurveda and the Doshas BY SIOBHAN FITZGERALD

rashes. Avoid all fermented foods, acidic,

which aggravate. All sweet and dairy is good, cooling foods, salads, chicken and turkey are great. Digestive herbs are cumin, fennel and corriander.

Kapha : heavier more rounded build, sleep well and have a steady appetite but slow digestion, need harmony and calm. Disease shows as swelling, colds, allergies or weight problems. Avoid dairy and too much sugar or

veg, dried fruits, goats’ cheese or milk.Digestive herbs are dry ginger, black pepper and cumin.

Moving into Autumn and early winter the Vata element is affected most and can be easily disturbed in these months ahead. Vata represents AIR and Ether, so blustery winds, cooler temperatures and shorter daylight all unsettle the Vata Dosha. We have to look here at being more mindful of routine. Eating at regular times, going to bed earlier (10pm approx) and getting a full 8 hours sleep is essential to calm. Let go of cooler salad foods now and look to introducing more warming stews, soups and roasted vegetables. Roots like carrots,beets and parsnips with a little spice and salt nourish the soul, keeping a Vata dosha happy. Digestion can become very dry and constipation sets in. The nervous system agitated making us more anxious and unstable, so grounding is paramount to keeping us stable. When this happens we feel more creative, spiritual and happy.

Siobhan Fitzgerald is specialist in Ashtanga Yoga, Pregnancy yoga and Ayurvedic treatments.

For more information, including information on teaching School for Eastern massage and Yoga retreats abroad visit:

www.yogawithsiobhan.co.uk

18 Active Life

Kelsey MacDonald is a name to look out for in the ever-growing world of

women’s professional golf. Originally from the picturesque town of Nairn in the Highlands, Kelsey moved to Stirling to take part in the well-respected golf scholarship programme at the city’s university. She is full of praise for the positive impact the area has had on her early career;

“The local facilities are of immense stature and I rely heavily upon the university, the Peak and the wide range of golf practice areas this beautiful community provides us with.

I have been fortunate enough to represent our university on the world stage in China as well as triumph in Florida upon graduating. Ending on such a high was remarkable and the university has very much been the catalyst amongst my sporting success and I thank them greatly.”

She has already played in a handful of events

event in Turkey in May and also has two top

The 22-year-old however, has bigger challenges ahead and Kelsey hopes that she can not only take her place amongst the elite of the sport but also inspire the next generation:

“I take great pride in educating young people as to the value of not only becoming involved in sport but pursuing an active and healthy lifestyle too.”

Stirling Sporting Stars

19Active Life

Suzanne opened “Head Over Heels Dance Fitness” studio early this year, in an

attempt to take advantage of the increasing

Having competed in Pole Fitness as a sport since 2010 and winning several titles, including 1st place at the Soul Pole Scottish Championships at Advanced Level, teaching the art was a natural progression. She has then gone onto competing with doubles partner, Deborah, they entered the British Championships in 2012 at doubles amateur level and achieved 1st place. They then went on to win 1st Place in the Miss Pole Scotland 2013 championships.

Suzanne and, Deborah plan on competing in the UK Finals this September and if successful there, they could dance their way to the World Championships in Switzerland later this year. Suzanne explains why working with a partner is especially tricky: “Doubles involves an incredible amount of strength as you are no longer just holding yourself on a pole but someone else too.”

In the meantime, Suzanne is enjoying teaching her skills to enthusiastic locals, “there are so many different nationalities living in Stirling and I get a huge variety coming through my studio doors. It’s such a pleasure to work with all of them. Everyone brings their

all they have fun; you can’t ask for any more than that!”

INTERVIEWS BY PAUL PHILBIN

20 Active Life

21Look Good Feel Good.

22 Look Good Feel Good.

23Look Good Feel Good.

24 Look Good Feel Good.

25Vouchers

CUT & BLOW DRY ONLY £18.00VALID from 1st September 2013 to 31st October 2013

50 barnton street, stirling fk8 1na. t: 01786 465 573e: info@hairandbeautyinstirling.co.uk www.hairandbeautyinstirling.co.uk

Not valid with any other offer. Advanced booking required.

One child eats free when the accompanying adult purchases a main course from the main menu (excluding steaks). Applies to children under the age of 14 eating from the kids menu.

£30 OFF all stock with this voucherVALID from 1st September 2013 to 31st October 2013

Bedworld Ltd, Burnbank Road, Falkirk FK2 7PE Tel: 01324 629421

BEDWORLD

Not valid with any other offer.

SO MANY BEDS, YOU’LL THINK YOU’RE DREAMING

Uni 22 - 28, Stirling ArcadeKing Street, Stirling FK8 1AX

Tel: 01786 474888www.ciboevino.co.uk

£10 OFFwhen you spend £40

Not valid with any other offer.

Sunday to ThursdayFREE Prize Draw to win a meal for 2!Use this voucher to enter. Draw takes place end of October.

26 Vouchers

£30 OFF all stock with this voucherVALID from 1st September 2013 to 31st October 2013

CLUSTER INDIVIDUAL LASHES & EYEBROW THREADING ONLY £15.00

VALID from 1st September 2013 to 31st October 2013

Bedworld Ltd, Burnbank Road, Falkirk FK2 7PE Tel: 01324 629421

BEDWORLD

Not valid with any other offer.

50 barnton street, stirling fk8 1na. t: 01786 465 573e: info@hairandbeautyinstirling.co.uk www.hairandbeautyinstirling.co.uk

Not valid with any other offer. Advanced booking required.

Buy two main courses from the adult main menu and get the cheapest half price.

SO MANY BEDS, YOU’LL THINK YOU’RE DREAMING

Uni 22 - 28, Stirling ArcadeKing Street, Stirling FK8 1AX

Tel: 01786 474888www.ciboevino.co.uk

3 courses £20 from our set menu

Not valid with any other offer.

Sunday to ThursdayFREE Prize Draw to win a meal for 2!Use this voucher to enter. Draw takes place end of October.

27Vouchers

t. 01786 230 338

Block 5, Unit 7, 20 Munro Road, Springkerse Industrial Estate, Stirling FK7 7UUwww.fwrgarageservices.co.uk

SAVE THE VAT - 20% DISCOUNTOFF YOUR FINAL BILL

Not valid with any other offer.

Murray Place, Stirling FK8 1DQ TEL: 01786 447439Not valid with any other offer.

L A CUCINAauthentic italian cuisine

64 Henderson Street, Bridge of Allan FK9 4HS. Tel. 01786 834679Valid lunchtime only Monday - Wednesday from 1st Sept - 31st Oct. Offer only valid with this voucher.

2 FOR 1 OFFER on A La Carte MenuOpen 7 days 12-2.30 and 5pm till late

Take away menu also available and live music every Sunday

KNOW THEIR TEMPERATUREwith a FREE Children’s Thermometer

www.rightmedicinepharmacy.co.ukFree with any purchase in store. Offer runs while stocks last. 1 per customer.

BANNOCKBURN - FALLIN - COWIE STIRLING UNIVERSITY - CARRONSHORE

Cheapest dish free, food only.

28 Vouchers

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KNOW THEIR TEMPERATUREwith a FREE Children’s Thermometer

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2 FOR 1 OFFER on A La Carte MenuOpen 7 days 12-2.30 and 5pm till late

Take away menu also available and live music every Sunday

Cheapest dish free, food only.

29Look Good Feel Good.

The holidays are over and it’s back to school for children across Scotland.

Whilst this might mean a bit of peace and quiet at home it also means being exposed to all sorts of bacteria and viruses.

Of course that’s all part of growing up and developing the bodies immune system. This isn’t much consolation when you have a feverish 7 year old lolling about the place. So here are some back to school tips on helping to keep your kids as healthy as possible and what to do when they are not.

Firstlyprevention is the best cure.It’s easier said than done getting kids to wash their hands regularly (boys in particular I’ve noticed). Small bottles

school bags and can used throughout the day to reduce the risk of infection from grubby hands.

If a child does catch something then the next line of defence is the bodies immune system. The immune system needs support not just from the goodness in the foods we eat but also from rest as well. As a father of two I know getting them to eat the right stuff in the right quantities is a challenge. The body does need the right fuel though if it is to stay in top condition and vitamins and minerals form an important part of that.

Robin our complimentary health guru based at our Causewayhead shop recommends Animal Parade supplements. “They offer a great range of vitamins, minerals and supplements” he says. “What parents tell me they really

are available in drops or chewable gummies”.

Back to School Health Tips BY NOEL WICKS, PHARMACIST - RIGHT MEDICINE PHARMACY

There’s quite a range on offer including ones

immune system as well as general vitamin and mineral combinations.

As you would imagine they also offer a Vitamin D supplement. This is very relevant in Scotland because for about 6 months of the year we don’t have enough sunlight for our bodies to produce the required vitamin D.

If you have children under 5 the advice form the Scottish Governmentis that they receivebetween 7 and 10 micrograms of Vitamin D each day. In some cases people can access these free of charge

through the pharmacy in the form of NHS Health Start vitamins (see www.healthystart.nhs.uk for more details).

Of course even the best immune system and hygiene techniques won’t stop your children from catching something. In which case there’s lots of help at hand!

The NHS is very keen for people to access the appropriate service for their needs, so going to A&E for head lice is a no no.

At the pharmacy children under 16 can be registered on the NHS Minor Ailments Service. This service means the pharmacist can give you a medicine free of charge on the NHS. The service covers a huge range of minor ailments such as a temperature, head lice, earache, diarrhoea, mouth ulcers, head lice and thread worms.

Now if only there was something to make them do their homework without having to ask them ten times!

30 Look Good Feel Good.

31Home Sweet Home

32 Home Sweet Home

Email: julia@juliagrantinteriors.co.uk

33Home Sweet Home

34 Home Sweet Home

1. Recommendations. Get recommendations from companies previous customers.

2. Length of manufacturer’s warranty. Be weary of 20 – 25 year guarantees as this is very unrealistic. The market standard is 5 years and a maintenance contract should be considered.

3. Have realistic price expectations. The maximum price of a good solar system is between £7000 and £8000 based on a 16 panel installation (at the largest size allowed for a domestic property) including a remote monitoring system. The viability of solar starts from 8 panels and all systems should generate between 10 and 15% return on your investment based on the 20 year Feed in Tariff subsidy and electric savings.

4.both the solar panels and the company have to be M.C.S. accredited in order for

Tips for buying Solar Power SystemsBY WILLIAM WILSON, EMOTION ENERGY

you to receive the 20 year index linked subsidy.

5. Decide on the type of panels. There is little to no difference between Chinese and European brands or monocrystalline and polycrystalline panels, however polycrystalline panels are cheaper.

6. Solar panel mounting .The mounting kit should be aluminium, thus rust proof. Brackets should go into your roofs wooden trusses and not be drilled through the tiles or slates.

7.

European brands than Chinese. Market leaders include Fronius, SMA and Power One.

8. Design the system. Design is important to see how many kW’s of electric the system will produce. If this part is done incorrectly the system may under perform.

35Home Sweet Home

36 Home Sweet Home

It wasn’t so long ago when a personal computer’s storage was tiny. On today’s

personal computers you can save thousands

your laptop depending on the size of the hard disk drive.

So what does it all mean?

Hard Disk Drive (HDD)

This is where programs/apps and data are permanently stored. Space is measured in bytes.

1 Byte = 1 alphanumeric character

1KB (kilobyte) = 1024 bytes

1MB (Megabyte) = 1024kb

1GB (Gigabyte) = 1024MB

1TB (Terabyte) = 1024GB

Jargon Buster - All about Disk SpaceWITH GEMINI SOLUTIONS

To give you an idea: Films can be from 250MB to 5GB in size depending on the

can be at least 500 KB. So on a 500GB laptop you are going to be able to store thousands of songs, a huge number of photos and many

cloud storage or external devices if you want to store more stuff.

Saving your stuff to “the cloud” means it’s saved on larger managed computers somewhere on the internet instead of being saved on your hard drive. This is so that your photos etc. can be accessed from your different devices such as your iPhone, your tablet and your laptop via the internet and can be shared easily with others if you want to. Your data should be secure and backed up when it’s stored on the cloud.

37Home Sweet Home

38 Home Sweet Home

39Home Sweet Home

40 Pets

41Pets

As this is written we are hopefully coming to the end of the thunder storms of late

July. It has been a busy week with calls about stressed pets, making us think forward to

Many pets are very comfortable with loud noises. Some however have noise phobias that result in a huge degree of stress for themselves and their owners.

We can help our pets in a lot of ways to prevent noise phobias and to treat them when present. In practice we see the most common cause of noise phobias actually being very well intended interactions from their owners.

First of all never punish your pet for being scared, this will make matters worse. Equally, do not over fuss your dog or cat. This vital point is missed by many who think they are doing the right thing by cuddling up to their scared pet. In actual fact, over-reassurance serves to reinforce the fear behaviour. It tells

Fireworks & Thunder!BY GLENN HODGSON www.apexvets.com

your pet that they are right to be scared, and

to be scared of. It is far better for you to carry on as normal, being jolly, showing your pet that there is absolutely nothing to be worried about.

We can use many other techniques to help our pets; these include noise desensitization, pheromones, hearty meals prior to the noise,

management.

We are always happy to discuss these

options with our clients.If you require further

information please contact your vet and they will be able to

help.

42 Pets

Ddedicated do it yourself dog wash.

With bespoke facilities including 7 self-contained custom built wash bays which each include a specialist dog bath, thermostatically controlled trigger shower heads and a large drying area to give total privacy to the client and avoid distractions for the dogs and create a calming homely environment.

Dogzone is owned by the Campbell family, a family of dog lovers who came across a few problems with keeping their own pets clean and houses while washing the dogs.

Clean PetsWITH DOGZONE, STIRLING

They have managed to create a homely environment where you can bring your mucky

pup and wash them yourself, using warm water (no more cold outside hoses), not risking scratches on your bath and avoiding wet carpets and dirty towels for

stress free bath for you and your dog.

With specially designed bays and with a range of organic shampoos and

conditioners available for purchase they are able to cater for all shapes and sizes of dogs.

Call us today to book your appointment on01786 475232 or visit

dogzonestirling.webs.com

No more messy bathrooms, no more wet towels, just happy dogs and happy owners.

DogZone has 7 self contained custom built wash bays which include a specialist dog bath, thermostatically controlled shower heads and a large drying area to give total privacy to avoid distractions.

YOU WASH, YOU DRYWE CLEAN UP!

9 Back O’ Hill Road Industrial Estate, Stirling FK8 1SHTel: 01786 475 232 E: dogzonestirling@hotmail.co.uk

43Wedding

Ihad been planning to propose to Amanda for a while, but wanted it to be special.

Something she’d remember for the rest of her life. A ‘standard’ proposal following a candlelit dinner wasn’t going to cut it. I wanted to create an experience that would signify the start of a magical journey that would culminate in an amazing wedding.

It was while driving through Bridge of Allan one Saturday afternoon just before Christmas that it came to me.

During the four years or so of living in Bridge of Allan we had fallen in love with the village and felt part of a warm, welcoming community. Saturday afternoons were often spent perusing the high street, popping into the various shops and cafés and running into friends.

So, over the next couple of weeks I arranged a Christmas Eve treasure hunt for Amanda that involved her picking up a card and

Local Love BY DON MCINTYRE

present at various locations along the high street. In each card I had written a little poem that expressed how I felt about her and provided a clue as to where to go next.

Over the course of the journey the messages started to hint at the fact that it was going to

was in on it: the hairdressers, the Italian restaurant, the Westerton, even the chippy. I think there were 12 stops in total.

The last clue suggested that a, by now very excited and slightly nervous Amanda, return to the house. On opening the front door a line of candles guided her to the balcony where I was waiting, on bended knee with a ring.

We had an amazing wedding in Las Vegas.

‘The whole village was in on it...’

44 Wedding

45Wedding

46 Wedding

Ihave been overweight for as long as I can remember. I had no incentive to lose weight

and continued to pile on the pounds after having my two children. When I was 29, my ex-husband left me when I was seven months pregnant with our second child. I was depressed for months following the birth and losing weight was the last thing on my mind.

I tried every diet under the sun but gave up on them all. I believed I was just “meant to be fat”. I would always be jealous of seeing my thin friends dressed to go out in lovely clothes while I was sat in the house lounging about in my size 18-20 pyjamas.

My life began to improve when I met my new partner in 2005. He was so supportive, helped and encouraged me to get my life back on track. Again I tried numerous diets as I was so miserable with my weight but gave up after losing only a few pounds. My partner would always say, “There is nothing wrong with you, I love you the way you are” however I knew deep down this was not the case.

Life circumstances continued to dominate my weight and diet plans. I was made redundant from my job and decided to go to university to study nursing, juggling studying, work placements and two children was hard enough without having to work on losing weight. Convenience was key; food was a solution to hunger not part of my lifestyle. My mum was then diagnosed with lung cancer, which greatly affected my motivation and ability to focus on my own health.

My one and only dream was to reach my goal

the date drew nearer, I started trying on size 20 dresses. I could have burst into tears when I saw myself in the mirror.

I needed something drastic to get this weight shifted for my wedding. I phoned Lighter Life and was told I would qualify for the Total programme because my BMI was above 30. This meant totally eliminating food from my everyday diet and only having 4 food packs per day. I made an appointment for the following night to go to an information session

Wedding Weight Loss BY DEBBIE YOUNG

and speak with the councillor. She was so helpful and made me feel at ease. I was so determined and motivated that this was going to be the weight loss programme to give me the results I wanted!

By attending my weekly classes I have learned how to change my attitude towards food and deal with the ups in downs in life without turning to food. I now appreciate that a treat isn’t always about putting food in my mouth but to treat myself to a nice beauty treatment, go for a walk or even have a hot bubble bath!

shut myself away in the house with baggy clothes on, eating junk and making myself more miserable. I love to get out and socialise with friends. My energy levels have increased incredibly and I feel so much healthier. I now have a “get up and go” attitude rather than a “can’t be bothered” one.

Lighterlife will always be part of my life and I still intend to see my councillor and ensure my weight is maintained. My councillor has been amazing and supported me through every step of my journey. I would never have done it without all the support Pamela gave me.

A few years ago I would never have thought that I would turn my life around and gain a nursing degree and to top it all off.....lose 4 ½ stone.

before after

47Wedding

Something old,Something new,

Something borrowed,Something blue...

This saying dates back to Victorian time and the full version is “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue and a sixpence in her shoe.”

Something old and new represent the link with the bride’s family and her past, and good fortune and success in her new life. Something borrowed is to remind the bride that friends and family will be there when help is needed. Blue symbolises faithfulness and loyalty. Finally the sixpence in her shoe

and happiness.

48 Christmas

Scotland’s King of Panto is back at macrobert!

Johnny McKnight stars in their brand new Christmas extravaganza Beauty And The Beast showing from 27 November - 5th January.

Tickets on sale now - call 01786 466666 or visit www.macrobert.org

To be in with a chance of winning, just answer the following question:

Who stars in Beauty & The Beast at Macrobert?

To enter visit: www.lovelocalmag.com

Once Upon A Time in a far, far, faraway land - further than even Falkirk - lived a handsome young Prince and a beautiful young girl named Belle.

Stirling Stella is not a happy place. The recession is STILL in full force. Bunty Buntock is worried about her two children, Belle and Sebastian. Belle is sick of men - especially her psycho-ex Gaston, who keeps slapping his thighs and declaring Belle his prize.

All Belle wants is her equal (oh and to win the Stirling Stella Showchoir competition). Sebastian is tired of being the silly billy, if only the local evil witch Valentina Rizzla would notice him.

And think on poor Prince Matthew Creepy-Crawley,

be the heart-throb of Stirling Stella, and now thanks to an evil curse he’s scarier than Bigfoot.

Who would know that a stolen rose - and a

The greatest love story in the pantosphere as you’ve never heard it before. Part Grease, part

Win a family pass for 2 adults and 2 children for Beauty & The Beast on 17th December at Macrobert

Win! Win! Win!

49Christmas

We can almost hear your cries of horror, “an article about Christmas, we haven’t

even had Halloween!” I know, sorry, however for those of you single-handedly organising Christmas for family or friends the next few

and dread, hopefully our handy Christmas tips will make it all better….

Lists…make lists, whether it be on post it notes, note pads or military precision excel spreadsheets will help keep you focused through the chaos of the season.

Organise your diary…‘Tis the season to be social! Your diary will work hand in hand with your lists to help you countdown to social events, and even remember the last posting date before Christmas!

Plan Christmas Dinner…make a comprehensive shopping list and start

Christmas Tips

stocking up on unperishable items early

Christmas Eve shops). Be sure to keep all goodies locked away from any children, and make sure they are nowhere in sight when you break open the boxes of Milk Tray on Christmas Eve

Dig out your decorations…picture this – the

on the top of the tree, you switch the fairy lights on and.. nothing! Avoid tears at bedtime (probably yours) by testing all your lights and decorations well in advance.

YOU WILL FIND LOTS OF CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS IN THE NEXT EDITION OF LOVE LOCAL

‘...the next few weeks will

50 Local Business Connections

51Local Business Connections

Graphic Design & Printing Services

t: 01786 466 799 e: stirling@printing.com

STIRLING

unit 30, stirling enterprise park, stirling fk7 7rp

www.stirlingprinting.com

WORKING WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES SINCE 2006

‘LIKE’ us on Facebook and be in with a chance of winning a set of

500 Luxury Business Cardsworth over £ 100.00

facebook.com/printing.comstirling

The winner will be announced on Facebook on 30th September 2013 and in the next edition of Love Local