ABERDEEN & ABERDEENSHIRE SANTA’S COMING TO THE NORTH EAST! CHRISTMAS 2022 ALL WRAPPED UP FAMILY TICKETS TO TWO GREAT PANTOS Issue 63 MAGAZINE & WEBSITE THE GO-TO GUIDE FOR YOU AND YOUR CHILD raring2go.co.uk WINTER 2022 WIN!
Raring2go! PLACES TO GO Raring2go! 2 raring2go.co.uk 3 We are counting down the days to Christmas (any excuse for two months of Advent Calendars!) and have already looked out some sparkly lights to cheer us up on the dark evenings. This year we are going to keep our loved ones (both actual and chosen families) close to us and plan time together to eat, talk and laugh – and are keeping presents to the needed and practical (giving gifts of vouchers to learn new skills, homemade treats, our time, new equipment, books, as well as the odd pair of socks or gloves plus a very special present of shampoo for the dog who loves to roll in unsavoury things in the woods!). Santa and his helpers are heading to see us in many locations this November and December – so you can ensure the Christmas lists and wishes make it to the ear of the Man himself – check out our Guide in this issue (and more on our FB page and web What’s On as we hear about them!). We’ll also be heading off to as many Pantos as we can fit in for some laughter and all-round good fun – being part of a large group of people laughing is a great tonic in the winter. Luckily, we have a LOT to choose from this year – Hooray! We’re planning on having people around for cups of tea and Christmas goodies (and maybe the odd glass of something stronger) so the kids can play, the adults can chat and the teens can secret themselves away and roll their eyes at the embarrassing adults. This is what this time of year is all about – being with those you love! So, whatever you’re planning and however you like to ‘do Christmas’ enjoy it! H llo! EDITOR Victoria Withy EDITORIAL Victoria Withy Aileen MacVicar DESIGN ADVERTISING SALES Aileen MacVicar ADMINISTRATION Alison Smith GET IN TOUCH T: 01467 629491 M: 07795 118228 E: aberdeen@raring2go.co.uk THE TEAM Victoria Withy Editor & Owner Minco Design & Print What's On DISCOVER THE FULL LINE UP OF EVENTS AND FIND HOSPITALITY UPGRADE DETAILS TO TAKE YOUR NEXT SHOW TO A NEW LEVEL OF INCREDIBLE. BOOK TICKETS AT PANDJLIVE.COM Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th January 2023 Monday 10th & Tuesday 11th April 2023 • It’s FREE to join • Monthly email newsletters with new offers and events • Download vouchers and save £££’s • Great competitions Become a website member Please recycle this magazine when you are finished with it. JOIN NOW raring2go.co.uk Copyright © 2018 Mojo Publishing Ltd. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, mechanical or electronic, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Requests for permission or further information should be addressed to the publishers. Whilst the publisher makes every effort to ensure that the businesses featured in this magazine are of the highest quality, we do not guarantee the services and products from any business featured. Printed by Gemini Print. Telephone: 01273 468884 • Sign up for FREE! • Monthly email NEWSLETTERS with the latest OFFERS and EVENTS • Download VOUCHERS and save £££’s • Enter COMPETITIONS for amazing prizes!
5 Raring2go! Raring2go! 4 raring2go.co.uk From maternity bundles for mother and baby to nappies, formula milk, clothing, toys and equipment for children aged 0-18 years, AberNecessities recognises the importance of meeting the basic needs of a child in order to give them the best start possible. Sadly 18% of children across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire are living in poverty. Abernecessities has seen an immediate and sustained surge from families with pre-existing vulnerabilities as well as from those experiencing loss of employment and financial insecurity for the first time. Your donations help to provide children living across the North-East with the necessities and opportunities they need to grow, learn, develop and thrive. Your support truly makes an extraordinary impact on a child’s life today and helps build our youth for the future. Since launching in March 2019, AberNecessities has helped over 8,000 children across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. To us that means, over 8,000 full tummies, over 8,000 pairs of cosy hands and feet and over 8,000 smiles. We simply couldn’t do what we do without you - thank you. Grove House Howe Moss Road Dyce, Aberdeen AB21 0ER abernecessities.co.uk SCIO - SC048788 AberNecessities provides disadvantaged families with the essential and basic necessities that No Child Should GoWithout. Open from SAT 19th NOV BOOK NOW GTM.ORG.UK/SANTA 10 PIN BOWLING! Harlaw Road, Inverurie, Aberdeenshire, AB51 4FR T: +44 (0) 1467 622622 | www.gibconline.co.uk GREAT FUN FOR ALL THE FAMILY GARIOCH INDOOR BOWLING CENTRE Together, let’s make it count Play your part at rspb.org.uk/birdwatch The RSPB is a registered charity in England and Wales 207076, in Scotland SC037654. Blue tit by Alamy BGBW-23 Every birdwatch matters Join hundreds of thousands of others and take part in Big Garden Birdwatch - the UK’s largest citizen science wildlife survey. Sign up, connect with nature and make your birdwatch count. 27–29 January 2023 Big Garden Birdwatch TP25732 BGBW23 Blue Tit A5 ad portrait.indd 1 05/10/2022 14:54
Raring2go! Raring2go! 6 raring2go.co.uk 7 10 easy ways to take control of your energy bills this winter! We’re all having to watch the pennies at the minute, so here are a few tips to help you reduce the amount of energy you use at home… Use a thermostat or heating programmer rather than switching your heating on/off manually. Close internal doors to keep the heat where you want it. An incredible amount of heat can be lost through doors left open. Only fill the kettle with as much water as is needed. A kettle uses an incredible amount of energy each time it boils. Dry clothes slowly on an airer in a well ventilated space, or outdoors, to save on tumble dryer costs. If you have curtains above where a radiator is positioned, then tuck them behind radiators to keep the heat inside the room. c o 18 Set your thermostat to 18-21 degrees Celsius. A reduction of just 1º can save around £80 a year on household bills. Draughtproof your doors and your windows to reduce heat loss and lower heating bills. This is a very cost effective measure to take. Wash clothes at 30ºC. A simple thing like a 10ºC reduction in temperature can almost half the energy costs of a normal load wash. Make use of a slow cooker. They are much more efficient than a conventional oven and the food tastes great too. Defrost your freezer to save money. It’s a job no one likes doing but a regualr defrost of your freezer can make it more efficient. Available Lunch Dates: Nov 26, December 2, 3, 9, 16, 22 Available Dinner Dates: Dec 2, 3, 9, 10, 16 Father Christmas and his elves have made some room in their busy schedule this festive season to visit The Dunes Restaurant & Bar. Contact our bookings team: Tel: +44 (0)1358 743300 or Email: bookings@trumpgolfscotland.com Competition WIN! Tickets are not transferable to another show. WIN! A Family Ticket for The Pantomime Adventures of Peter Pan Competition closes 31st December 2022 To enter visit W: raring2go.co.uk/ aberdeen-city-and-shire/ competitions We have teamed up with His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen to give one lucky family (2 adults and 2 children) tickets to the Matinee (1pm) Show on Sunday 8th January 2023!
Raring2go! 22 & 23 APRIL 2023 ✔ ENTER NOW WWW.RUNBALMORAL.COM RACES FOR ALL AGES CHILDREN & ADULTS RUN BALMORAL 2023 THE FAMILY RUNNING EVENT PLUS FUN ACTIVITIES IN THE EVENT VILLAGE CLIMBING WALL, ZORBS & MORE SCAN FOR MORE INFO Raring2go! 8 raring2go.co.uk 9 Where can you see Santa this Christmas? Please check details before setting off! We are hearing about new events constantly – keep an eye on our social pages and our What’s On? Diary at www.raring2go.co.uk/aberdeen-city-and-shire. Santa’s Workshop - Charlie House. (various dates over weekends and some weekdays) hosted by Bon Accord and Charlie House, Upper Mall of Bon Accord. Booking is essential- £7.99 per child. For all the details and booking see FB: Santa’s Workshop - Charlie House. Aberdeen Christmas Village - fun for the whole family with Ice Rink and Market to enjoy. Further details and timings can be found at https://www.aberdeencity. gov.uk/ (search Christmas Village). and lots more dates up until Christmas Eve - Christmas at the BA Barn. Visit Santa in his cosy grotto plus Elves, Train Rides, Tearoom and Craft stalls for everyone to enjoy. Details and further information on FB: Christmas at the BA Barn Ballater Winter Festival and Santa’s Grotto from 10.00am. Tickets can be purchased on the door. More details of the event on FB: Ballater Winter Festival - Santas Grotto Monymusk Grand Light Switch On from 5.30pm. DJ, Kintore Pipe Bank, Fireworks Display and Meet Santa on his Sleigh. Hot food and drinks available. (and five more dates) Victorian Christmas Fayre, Delgatie Castle. The House will be decorated, the Tea Room open, Craft stalls stocked and Santa will be there too. Bookings required for Santa. More information regarding booking and castle entry on FB: Delgatie Castle | Aberdeen Advent begins. Tradition dictates that Christmas trees should be put up at the beginning of Advent, which begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas. This year, Advent begins on Sunday 27th November 2022 (but with the dark nights upon us, we suggest you put your tree and sparkly lights up whenever you want to!). Christmas BIG Switch On in INverurie. 2.00 – 6.00pm in Inverurie Town Centre. St Andrew’s Day Parade at 3.30pm. Light Switch on followed by fireworks at 5.00pm. For more information, please see FB: Christmas BIG Switch-On INverurie 2022 Turriff Christmas Lights Switch On. 2.00 – 5.30pm Turra Toon. For more information see FB: Turriff Christmas Light Switch On Alford Christmas Festival and Parade. 12noon – 4.00pm. Live Music, Craft Fair and Food. For more information see FB: Alford Christmas Festival Aberdeen Nativity Scene. St Nicholas Kirkyard. Open Dawn to Dusk until 5th January. More details can be found at https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/ (search Aberdeen Nativity Scene). 12 Days of Christmas Sculpture Trail - can you find all the sculptures, solve the puzzle and get your reward? Free event. More information can be found at https://www. aberdeencity.gov.uk/ (search ‘Hunt for the Lost Toys’ Christmas Sculpture Trail). Santa’s Grotto in INverurie Town Centre. For more information on times and dates see FB: Santa’s Grotto INverurie 2022 Inverurie Reindeer Parade 2.30 – 5.30pm. Santa will also be arriving on his sleigh. For more event details see FB: Reindeer Parade - INverurie 2022 Rothienorman Pre-School Fundraising Christmas Tractor Run. From 4.30pm plus Christmas Grotto, Hot Food and Drinks. Please see FB: Fundraising Christmas Tractor Run for more information. Booking may be required in advance for the Grotto. Christmas Eve. Get ready for Santa! Christmas Day from NOV 12 NOV 26+ NOV 26 NOV 26 NOV 26 NOV 27 NOV-DEC 17-31 NOV 29 DEC 10 DEC 17 DEC 24 DEC 25 DEC 1-12 DEC 3-10 NOV 27 NOV 27 NOV 27 If you are organising a public event, please add it to our What’s On? Diary (quick, easy and free to do!) so we can help you promote it.
Competition WIN! Raring2go! Raring2go! 10 raring2go.co.uk 11 Tickets are not transferable to another show. WIN! A Family Ticket for Inverurie Panto 2022: Dick Whittington Competition closes 10th December 2022 We have teamed up with Inverurie Panto to give one lucky family (2 adults and 2 children) tickets to the Evening (7pm) Show on Monday 19th December 2022 performance! We spoke to Keith Donaldson, Producer of Inverurie’s famous Panto to find out what’s in store this year. Keith told us that each year the creative team behind the Inverurie Panto try to come up with new and interesting ways to keep the show fresh, and this year’s production of Dick Whittington is no exception. The part of Dick Whittington’s faithful Cat “Garioch” will be played by new cast member Emmah Chibesakunda. However, there is a twist in the tail – Emmah will be operating a puppet, in the style of the hit Broadway show Avenue Q! Producer Keith said, “I reached out to London based Puppeteer Sue Dacre who agreed to travel to Aberdeenshire and coach Emmah in how to operate the puppet. Sue’s extensive list of credits include working on films such as the Muppet Christmas Carol, Labyrinth and the Little Shop of Horrors. Producer He added, “we had a wonderful few days working with Sue – she is a fantastic puppeteer with a huge amount of experience working with many different puppets. It was great to hear stories of her working with the greats such as Jim and Brian Henson (of Muppet fame) and Frank Oz, the creative behind Yoda from Star Wars.” Sue enjoyed her time in Aberdeen - “I had such a good time, I really enjoyed working with Emmah and Directors Victoria Cowan and Craig Pike. I’m looking forward to coming back to seeing the finished product”. Sue will be back to give Emmah some further instruction before the show opens in December. Emmah was surprised at how many aspects there were to the puppet, “you have to concentrate on the movement of the puppet, lip syncing and eye contact, all whilst remembering my lines, singing and dancing – I’m really relishing the challenge!” Emmah is a Psychology student studying at Aberdeen University by day and a member of the Aberdeen University Acapella Society, The Killer Quines. For the puppet itself, Sue put the team in touch with Andy Heath, one of the founding members of Talk to the Hand, Puppets and Puppetry for Television and Film. Andy loved the design of Garioch and agreed to make a custom build especially for the Inverurie Panto. “We’re hoping we can provide a great character for the panto – although I am struggling to pronounce the Cat’s name - Garioch”. Since starting out as a swing performer on Doctor Dolittle The Musical in 1998, he has carved out an extraordinary career as one of the UK’s most trusted puppet coordinators. Working with everyone from Henson to The Gorillaz, Andy has created, originated and operated hundreds of characters, each with their own inimitable energy and style. If you’d like to see Emmah, Garioch and the rest of the Panto Cast, the show opens on Thursday 8th December and runs until Christmas. Tickets can be purchased online at www.inveruriepanto.com or by calling the ticket hotline on 01467 207000. Raring2go! gets behind the famous curtain at Inverurie Panto! To enter visit W: raring2go.co.uk/ aberdeen-city-and-shire/ competitions
12 raring2go.co.uk Raring2go! Raring2go! 13 Raring2go!’s Top Tips on decorating your Christmas Tree! Fluff up the branches. You’d need “fluffing up” if you’d been squashed in a cardboard box in the loft for the last 12 months or in a netting and tied on top of the car! Get the lighting right. This is a very important part of any tree decoration so you should spend a good half an hour or so getting your Christmas lights positioned just right starting from the top and working your way down, weaving them around every major branch. Garland before baubles. Whether you use beads, ribbons or tinsel to add texture to your tree do this before the baubles, so you don’t knock them off! Choose a colour scheme. Pick colours that go well together and keep to a theme. If in doubt, keep in simple! The fun bit. Adding the baubles is the bit the kids can really have fun with. Start with the cheaper plain-coloured baubles as a base then add in the more decorative baubles later. Move expensive, glass baubles to the top - you know what will happen to them otherwise. The crowning touch. The final piece of your festive masterpiece - an eyecatching Christmas tree topper. There are lots of options on the market to suit all tastes, including personalised toppers, snowflakes and of course the more traditional stars and fairies. 1 4 If you’re anything like me decorating the Christmas tree is a time-honoured tradition undertaken with a glass of mulled wine in hand and some cheesy Christmas music playing. But is there a right or wrong way to decorate a tree, and how can you make it fit for Harrods front window? Here are our top tips for a standout tree to make the whole street jealous! 2 5 3 6 O’ Christmas Tree, O’ Christmas Tree For many of us, Christmas starts when we buy our tree. Nothing quite compares to the look and smell of a real Christmas tree and choosing the perfect one is a cherished tradition in many families. Raring2go! outlines the pros and cons of different types of trees to help you choose the right one this Christmas: Choosing the ‘right one’: Measure the space where you plan to put your tree carefully. Take into account the heights of your tree-topper and stand as well as your ceiling. Don’t forget to measure the width of your space too. Christmas trees are usually trimmed so that they are 80% as wide as they are high, so you should be able to get a good idea of width even if your chosen tree is wrapped. If you’d like to see your chosen tree unwrapped, just ask. If the shop won’t unwrap it, go elsewhere! Make sure your chosen tree is fresh. Needles shouldn’t come off in your hand and the branches should be bendy. If the tree sheds a lot of needles, or the branches snap, choose another tree. Look after it! Once you’ve chosen the right tree, look after it! When you get your tree home, place it in a bucket of water until you want to bring it indoors. When you’re ready to bring the tree inside, saw two or three centimetres off the bottom and place it in a stand or bucket with some fresh water. A tree can drink more than a pint a day, so always keep it topped up! Know your trees! • The Norway Spruce has its own unique scent, feel and shape that will remind you of a traditional Christmas. The needles are mid to dark green and a bit prickly to touch, but the strong branches make it an ideal tree to decorate. It’s prone to dropping its needles so you need to water it regularly to prevent this from happening. • For a lovely symmetrical shape and strong branches look for a Nordmann Fir. The needles are shiny, mid green and soft to touch, making it ideal for all members of the family to decorate. The Nordmann Fir is a low needle-drop tree. • The Scots Pine has a bushy shape that can be appealing, but its long, twisted needles are tricky to hang decorations on. A strong pine smell and good needle retention are its other plus points. • Grand Fir is a glossy dark-green colour with needles that are three to four centimetres long with a wonderful citrus smell. It’s soft to the touch and may not be able to hold heavier decorations. It’s a pretty tree but it can often be very tall. • The Lodgepole Pine is quite like the Scots Pine but has darker, straighter needles. It has a wonderful pine scent and great needle retention.
whisk Raring2go! 15 Raring2go! 14 raring2go.co.uk Five ways to get the Christmas sprouts eaten up! It’s your duty as a parent to force sprouts on your family at Christmas. After all you wouldn’t want them to be the odd ones out at nursery, school or later in life – never able to share a horror story of the Christmas their mum wouldn’t let them leave the table until they had ‘eaten at least ONE!’ (we have all been there!). Here are our top tips to win the sprout battle this year: 1. Cook together: This often convinces kids to eat almost anything! If they peel and wash them, cut the cross in the bottom (if they are old enough to be safe with a sharp knife!) and then serve them at the table, they are more likely to try as they have helped make them. 2. Disguise ‘em: chop the sprouts into slices or quarters, then sauté gently in butter with bacon and pine nuts disguises the fact that they are actually that most-hated of vegetables, makes them taste delicious and could have them going back for seconds. 3. The ‘make a face’ trick: young children love eating a face and sprouts make excellent eyes, ears and noses. Add a few carrots or parsnips (a cunning ploy to get another one of ‘those’ veggies in!) on top of mashed potatoes; add gravy and voilà – who can resist? 4. Add cheese! Slow roast them glazed with honey, salt and olive oil, and sprinkled (liberally) with Parmesan cheese. If no one else eats them, at least you can ‘enjoy’ them! 5. And if none of these works, enlist help from everyone’s favourite green ogre – Shrek. Renaming them ‘Ogre Cookies’ or Shrek Snacks’ just may get your little ones to try one at least (maybe…?).
Raring2go! Raring2go! 16 raring2go.co.uk 17 Looking for the perfect Christmas gift for energetic and active kids? Gift vouchers are available to purchase here at Lochter Activity Centre www.lochter.co.uk Advert Proof Music instrument tuition Under 5’s music group In-school tuition Presents come in all shapes and sizes! Give the gift of a skill Every year at this time parent’s thoughts turn to what to get their children for Christmas as Santa lists are written and family members start to ask for inspiration! In times gone by, children often got something to read, something to wear, something to eat, something to learn, do or play. Now, with the huge range of toys and the latest ‘must have’ gadget ending up with a whole lot of ‘stuff’ to find a home for after Christmas is not so appealing for many parents. So why not try something different this year? A voucher for a series of classes or a trial at a new activity could be the start to a whole new hobby or world for a child. If a child already is keen on an activity, why not give them a new piece of kit or clothing like a riding hat, football boots, catcher’s mitt or kit bag? A voucher for dry skiing, surfing, rock climbing or jewellery making could be the start of something amazing - the sort of gift that will keep on giving long after the excitement of Christmas is over. Santa Santa’s Grotto Reindeerland XM4 5HQ How to receive a FREE personalised letter from Santa! 1.Write a letter to Santa telling him what you would like for Christmas. 2.Don’t forget to include your full name and address so Santa can reply. 3.Send your letter, by Friday 9th December to: Santa/Father Christmas, Santa’s Grotto, Reindeerland, XM4 5HQ (don’t forget to put a stamp on your envelope). 4. Wait for Santa to reply!
Raring2go! Raring2go! 18 raring2go.co.uk 19 DIVE INTO SOMETHING NEW THIS WINTER! Kids ages P1 - 15 years can learn new skills, stay active, and most importantly, have fun with our Junior Learn to Dive programme at Aberdeen Sports Village! Find out more & sign up today at aberdeensportsvillage.com/aquatics/diving @aberdeensportsvillage info@aberdeensportsvillage.com The winter school holidays can be a daunting prospect. There are weeks to fill and keeping the kids entertained can be a challenge. There will inevitably be occasions when all of us hear the words “I’m Bored”. So why not try this neat little trick to ensure that there is always an activity at hand. Find a jar. I use a Kilner jar but an old jam jar, bowl or even a cup will do. Just as long as you can put in as many activities as you need. Mine are all written on pieces of colourful card, but lolly sticks work just as well. Whenever boredom strikes, the kids have to dip in and pick an activity. I like to mix it up, so I include some chores or favours such as watering the plants and picking five toys to give away. Here are some suggested activities to get you started. However, you can fill your Bored Jar with whatever you want – ultimately it has to entertain your kids. Obviously, I keep my fingers crossed that ‘Make Mum a cup of tea’ gets picked every time! The only thing to remember is to replenish the jar with more activities and give it a good shake so that you are ready for the next time that boredom strikes. ‘Bored’ Jar Make a leaf collage Tidy your room Let’s make mini pizzas Let’s paint Visit the library Build a den inside Make a family tree Make jelly Make Mum a cup of tea
Raring2go! Raring2go! 20 raring2go.co.uk 21 17 www.raring2go.co.uk Story Starters Encourage your child’s imagination by asking them to make up a story about Winter – either written or, if they are tiny, then said out loud. If they have difficulty thinking of where to start, try giving them an opening sentence. For instance, ‘Frosty the Snowman waited until all the children were all in bed before he began to...’ or ‘Pip the mouse was supposed to be hibernating for the winter, but instead she decided to…’ Winter picnic Wrap up warm, take some soup or something hot to eat, pack a blanket and be brave and go outside – or else, have an indoors picnic on the living room floor. Ask teddies and toys to be the VIP guests, and serve party food on paper plates as if you were having a summertime picnic. The beanbag On a rainy day, if you really want to keep the kids busy, why not get them to make their own beanbags, then come up with a homemade game? To make a beanbag: Sew two small rectangles of scrap material together before stuffing with dried beans or lentils. To create a course: The children will enjoy making this as easy or challenging as they like. Use cushions or pillows as markers, and find some containers – waste paper baskets, buckets, empty shoe boxes etc – to be targets or holes. Now you and the children take turns in tossing the beanbag around the course and into the targets as appropriate. One child can play against himself by trying to improve his score, toss from further away, and so on. OR Find a sheet of cardboard (from an old box) that you can prop against a wall. Using the beanbag as a template, draw around it, adding a little extra space or turning it into a square or star shape. Cut out this shape and give each hole a score if you want, depending on how difficult you think it will be. The children can decorate the board with pens or paint and you have an easy-to-store toy for the next rainy day. Raring2go! xxx 16 Family tree Great for older children or families when there are new additions. Encourage your child to decide how they want to do this, for example, using existing photos, taking their own or drawing pictures of each family member. Help them understand where each picture will go on their tree which they can also draw. Why not let them add their favourite toy or pet to the tree? This will foster their imagination, improve writing and history skills and give them a greater understand of the family, supporting their personal, social and emotional development. Bird cake Now is a great time to look after the local wildlife. Make one of these to hang in the garden or outside. Then your children can watch the different birds that fly in for lunch. You will need: bird seed, raisins, peanuts, grated cheese, lard or suet, string, yoghurt pots, scissors and a mixing bowl. Get an adult to make a hole in the bottom of a yoghurt pot, thread string through then tie a knot inside the pot. Use the lard at room temperature, cut into small pieces and put into the mixing bowl. Add other ingredients with your fingers. Fill the pots with mixure and set in the fridge for a couple of hours. Then take them out of the yoghurt pots if you can, or just hang them on the trees as they are – and wait. Do you want to build a snowflake? We may not see snow this winter but this is perfect for dressing up a window at home. You will need: Sheet of tissue paper Sticky tape Instructions: Concertina fold the tissue paper. Find the middle and fasten with a piece of tape or a small elastic band. Fold in half. Cut small shapes along the folds, careful that you do not cut right through the width of the paper. Open out the folds and bring the edges together, fastening them with tape to make a complete circle. For preschoolers: Create a snowflake or star shape on paper with glue, then ask them to place cotton wool balls on top. No problem if they don’t quite get it, the balls will stick! Things to do this Winter Seasonal activities xxx The leaves have fallen from the trees, days are shorter, and we’re thinking about stews and pies – it must be Winter! But just because we are going into the coldest months of the year doesn’t mean we have to hibernate and turn to the TV and computer games for comfort - there are plenty of fun things we can do with our children, inside and out. Edible Christmas Bunting by Sugar Wish Cakes for Raring2go! Find us at facebook.com/ sugarwishcakesandbakes For the biscuits: • 650g Plain flour • 250g Butter • 250g caster sugar • 2 eggs • 1 tsp cinnamon • 1 tsp mixed spice Decoration: • 2 tbs warmed golden syrup • Selection of coloured sugar pastes • Decorations such as sugar stars, sweets, cut out icing shapes • Template or cutters for bunting (mine is 7cm across the base and 9cm top to bottom.) Method: Heat oven to 180C, gas mark 4. Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg a little at a time and mix well. Mix in the flour and spices, until the dough comes together. Roll out to approx 0.5cm thick and cut out the shapes, not forgetting to make the holes for the ribbon (I used a drinking straw.) Place on a baking tray covered in parchment paper and bake for approx 10 - 15 mins, until just golden brown. Leave to cool. When cold brush warmed syrup on each biscuit. Knead the sugar paste until pliable and roll out using a dusting of icing sugar if it’s sticky. Cut out the desired shapes and place on top of biscuits. If you’re cutting out sugar paste shapes to stick on, attach with a little water. If decorating with sprinkles or sweets, you will need to use a little more syrup brushed on the icing for the sprinkles to adhere to. Leave for a few hours then thread with festive ribbon.
22 raring2go.co.uk Raring2go! Raring2go! PLACES TO GO 23 Copyright © 2022/2023 by Mojo Ltd. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, mechanical or electronic including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Publisher. Requests for permission or further information should be addressed to the Publishers. Produced and published by Clique Publications Limited 27 Fairway Avenue, Inverurie, Aberdeenshire AB51 3WY Telephone: 01467 629491. All information in the publication is published in good faith and cannot be reproduced without written permission. Whilst the publisher makes every effort to ensure that the businesses featured in the publication are of the highest quality, we do not guarantee the services and products from any businesses featured. Please note that points of view expressed in articles and in advertisements included in this publication do not necessarily represent those of the Publishers. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in the publication, no legal responsibility will be accepted by the Publishers for loss arising from the use of information published. All rights reserved. Competitions Our competition Ts and Cs are here: www.raring2go.co.uk/competition-terms. They don’t reference GDPR specifically because our privacy policy makes this very clear www.raring2go.co.uk/privacy. Enter via the Raring2go.co.uk/aberdeen-city-and-shire, simply by registering for free on the site. These rules apply to all the competitions in the magazine. The winner(s) will be the first correct entry drawn at random. No cash alternative to prize. The winner will be notified by email or by phone. A list of recent winners will be published in each edition. Any personal data provided will be processed in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). It will only be used for the purposes of notifying outcomes of the competition. Your information will not be shared with any organisations external to Raring2go! except for when a third party is issuing a prize directly. If you don’t wish to be informed of future events or offers, please state so. Our Autumn Competition to win one of two Family Tickets to Disney on Ice at the P&J live was won by Laura Wilson and Family and Dianne Roberts and Family. FREE 30-DAY TRIAL readingeggs.co.uk/r2gowinter Scan QR code for 30-Day FREE trial *This 30-day free trial offer allows you to add up to 4 children. You will be charged at the end of the trial period unless you cancel before this time. You can cancel any time by selecting the ‘Cancel Subscription’ option located on the ‘Manage My Subscription’ page in your family dashboard. Offer is valid for new UK customers only. Ages 3–9 Learning Maths Nurture an early love of maths with structured lessons and activities that build essential maths skills. Ages 7–13 Building Confidence Older children can continue building key literacy skills that will help them succeed in school. Ages 3–7 Learning to Read Children follow structured, one-on-one lessons that teach phonics, sight words and reading skills. Ages 2–4 First Steps Delight your toddler with fun games and activities that build alphabet knowledge and ready-to-read skills. Ages 5–10 Mastering Phonics Fast-paced lessons cover key phonics skills, perfect for both emergent and struggling readers. Try the multi-award winning online reading programme for kids aged 2–13. Reading Eggs makes learning to read easy and fun for young kids, and it’s proven to work in just 15 minutes a day. Perfect for supporting school learning and cleverly designed to grow with your child, 91% of parents see an improvement within just a few short weeks. Can you relax and enjoy Christmas? It’s so easy to get caught up in the rush of Christmas preparations – all that shopping, extra work and keeping other people happy! How can you make Christmas a more relaxing and enjoyable time? KEEP IT REAL Many of us create ‘the ideal Christmas’ in our minds, only to discover that it does not resemble our reality. Avoid focusing too much on the ‘at home’ celebrity Christmas magazine articles, and fancy, complicated, celebrity endorsed recipes - now is not the time to add more stress into your cooking. Remember, your Christmas is special and unique – it’s yours. CREATE A CUT-OFF POINT Decide in advance exactly when you will stop preparing and working and start relaxing and enjoying. Perfection quite simply does not exist because we all have different perceptions of it – so recognise when something is done or finished... and feel good about it. SHOPPING If you are hungry, cross or tired, you won’t be making the best shopping decisions. Take a break – have something to eat or drink. If that doesn’t make you feel better, stop shopping and return another day. Ghost of Christmas Past If you’re starting to feel stressed or angry about the forthcoming celebrations, chances are you may be remembering bad experiences from past Christmases. Take a few moments out, close your eyes and relax. Now, replace the bad images with some nice ones – a scene of this Christmas going just the way you’d like it to. The more you can visualise it going well, the greater the odds are that it will. STAY IN THE PRESENT It’s possible to completely ‘miss the moment’ and come away from Christmas feeling as if it didn’t really happen. Aim to take a few moments each day to keep yourself in the present - notice what is going on around you and actively ‘create memories’ for yourself. CREATE A ‘SPECIAL MEMORY’ Some families have a multitude of rituals and customs that they’ve acquired over the years and it’s what makes their Christmas unique. See if you can create a special memory for your family this year and notice how it changes your feelings for the better! Alicia Eaton is a Clinical Hypnotherapist and NLP Practitioner based in London’s Harley Street. You can read more about her strategies for success in her book: “Fix Your Life…with NLP”. For more details see www.aliciaeaton.co.uk.
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