Here we are again, summer’s almost over; the children are back to school; and none of us feel we’ve had much of a holiday. If we stayed at home there was barely a day of “feel good” sunshine, and worse, if we travelled to foreign parts in search of the sun we were so exhausted by the flights, the security, and the missing luggage that we almost wished we’d stayed at home. Some summers are less memorable that others – and this one particularly so, however the Country Loon might have some insights to give us hope for a wonderful Autumn.

I was reading an article about The Scouts who have just celebrated 100 years with their 21st World Jamboree. Apparently the movement is experiencing a renaissance after a decline in the nineties, and Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, is said to be impressed by research showing that Scouting’s structured activities – giving children responsibility and having them work in teams, taking acceptable risks and thinking for themselves - are an excellent way of keeping disaffected youth on the straight and narrow. It seems also that more and more parents identify with this research and feel Scouting might be a suitable antidote to computer games in their offsprings’ development. There are now 50,000 children on waiting lists for Scouts and Guides, due to the lack of adult volunteers.

It is sad that we seem to have the same volunteer malaise in Lower Deeside, as the next two articles testify. What is it that holds people back from helping in the community? Are we all too tired after a hard day’s commuting? Is the lure of a solid evening’s television so overwhelming? Or are we so full of “I’m all right Jack” that we can only think of ourselves and Deil tak the hinmost? Don’t we even care enough about our children’s development – to want to help?

Editor
Drumoak Brownies A last ditch plea

An open letter to the Local Community

By District Commissioner Lynn Murphy

I thought I should take this opportunity to write to you all with regards to the situation at 1st Drumoak Brownies. At present we have NO adult leaders at all to run this unit. I am presently trying to recruit at least two female leaders to keep this unit running. Hence this plea for help from the local community which hopefully you are reading in the latest edition of the Drumoak and Durris Newsletter.

At present I am unsure as to whether or not the Unit will be meeting again once the new term starts after /

the summer holidays. As a Durris quine, born and bred, and a resident until very recently, I understand

how important it is to keep groups like this running to keep the local community spirit alive.

Perhaps YOU or SOMEBODY YOU KNOW would like to take on this exciting and challenging role. All it takes is a couple of hours a week. Any female between 18 and 65 who is prepared to go through the child protection disclosure process (Disclosure Scotland) is eligible to join Girlguiding in Scotland. All volunteers need to do is to complete a simple application form and each applicant will be subject to a Criminal Records Bureau Check. There is a great support network locally in Kincardine and Deeside and regular trainings are held for all Leaders. All you need is a great sense of FUN.

If you have any queries or questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. I can be contacted at or 01330 825936 or my mobile on 07903042514.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Wendy, Tanya (who is off to University) and Michelle (who was doing her Duke of Edinburgh with us) for their help. I know the girls will miss their great sense of humour and fun.

Also thanks to all the parent helpers who put themselves down on the Rota last term and most especially to the mums who gave up their day to make the K & D Kapers event in June at Templars Park in Maryculter the success that is was. I know the girls had a great day out and I certainly did too. Hopefully 1st Drumoak can get the support and leaders that it needs and can go on to have many more Brownie Adventures.

Lynn Murphy
Keithmuir Park

Last Newsletter, we reported that moves were afoot to restart the all weather pitch in the park. Three ladies had organised a survey of residents to find out what they wanted and whether anyone would help to take the project forward. Debbie Cameron reports that the questionnaires were sent out and there has been some success with their return, but more are awaited. From the returns so far there is much enthusiasm for doing something, but disappointingly, no volunteers to help them as yet.

LANDLUBBERS- a week of Pirating!

Some 70 young children have enjoyed a great end of holidays week, courtesy of Drumoak-Durris Church at the Holiday Bible Club. Thanks to Sarah and John Marshall and their hard working team of volunteers the children thoroughly enjoyed themselves with lots of crafts, games, activities, snacks, drama, music, and workouts – all on a pirate theme. Lots of parents had some welcome respite care due to Sara, John, and their team, so on their behalf a huge

Thank You!

A special welcome back to Fiona Milne after a long illness from which she has recovered sufficiently to write for the Newsletter. As the Senior Ranger based at Crathes Castle she is a fund of information on flora and fauna:-

What to look out for this Autumn

It’s fungi time of the year again, and with all the rain we’ve had there should be a good show. Birch polypore is now starting to sprout from old birch trees. They look like little round white sponges when young then grow to become flat and leathery. They are also known as Razor Strop fungus as it has in the past been used to sharpen blades. It also has antibiotic properties but I wouldn’t recommend trying it. It has clearly be used for practical uses for a very long time as pieces of the fungi were found on the 5,300 year old “ice mummy” found in the Alps last century.

Another familiar and easily identified fungi is the bright red one with white spots, often associated with fairies. Know as the Fly Agaric it is not one you would want served up to you for dinner. It is highly poisonous and has in the past been used mixed in with milk and placed in kitchens to attract and then stupefy flies. Despite the fact that our digestive system can’t cope with the toxins, fly agaric is obviously tasty to mice and squirrels - the tell tale nibble marks frequently found on the caps give the game away.

While out for a walk you may notice a strong, unpleasant, pungent smell but not see any obvious cause. Follow your nose and you will probably find it is wafting through the air from a tall fungi with a dark green bell shaped cap, which will most likely be covered in flies.

This is the Stinkhorn. The smell is produced to attract the flies which then crawl all over it and getting covered in the green slime which contains the spores. After leaving the Stinkhorn the fly will move on and the spores will drop off ready to start the next generation of fungi. Have a look around and you may see an earlier stage of this fungi which looks like an egg sitting in the leaf litter. It is said to be edible at this stage, but I can’t say I fancy it.

Remember fungi are a very important part of the ecology of the natural world. They provide mice and squirrels with a much needed meal while at the same time playing a vital role in decomposing and recycling of dead wood.

So when you’re out and about think twice before picking every wild mushroom you see as you could be depriving a poor squirrel of its dinner or if you’re unlucky the mushroom could take its revenge out on your tummy!

Fiona Milne

Senior Ranger / Naturalist

National Trust for Scotland
Medical notes

Calling all chocolate lovers! It now seems to be a likely medical fact that a small daily ‘dose’ (approximately 1 small square) of dark chocolate may have a beneficial effect on the vascular system, even lowering blood pressure a little, according to one study which I read recently. Hopefully larger scientific studies will produce more information on this potential health benefit of a food which has previously not enjoyed such a status. It reminds me somewhat of the discovery during the 1990’s that small daily doses of alcohol (particularly red wine) offered health benefits, again to the cardiovascular system. A far cry indeed from “an apple a day”! However it may simply be that “a little of what you fancy” and “a bit of everything in moderation” continue to be amongst the most sensible and accurate items of dietary advice when it comes to promoting basic good health.

Practices locally will be beginning to organise their ‘flu vaccination programmes now that autumn is approaching, so watch out for details at your surgery. I haven’t seen too many cases of sunburn (and hardly any sun-tans!!) this year although I think allergies may not have been so bad with the much wetter summer.

Best wishes

Dr Douglas Harris,

Peterculter
Observations from the Country Loon

Last issue, the Country Loon told us that June and July would be pretty wet. He wisnae wrang!

.

I probably should nae even mention the word summer at this late stage of the season “10th August.” But; there can be no better time to reflect back on natural indications and “auld sayins which wi shid be peyin mair attention tae.” We might be better prepared to cope with the same conditions in future.

First I must refer to a quote I made in the June newsletter referring to lush clover in May indicating at least the first part of summer would be wet, at the time I didn’t have the saying at hand “bit; since then I’ve faa`n in wi`t.”

Fan clover is lush in Mey,

Efter St. Swithins mak the hey.

Clover is a plant that can fix nitrogen from the air similar to the pea family; it has nodules on its roots which contains bacteria enabling it to fix air nitrogen, essential for plant growth. Spells of varying high and low pressure increases the air nitrogen which in turn gives rise to lush clover. The cause of the varying temperatures is due to some years more than others a greater amount of warm tropical air moving towards the Poles. In the middle latitude “oor area” this warm air encounters the cold air flowing from the polar region; it is here that the cold airs of the polar fronts interact to produce the mobile low pressure areas. The exact positions of the polar fronts vary. The constant battle between the different air masses leads to a lengthy spell of ever changing pressures, hence the rain.

Gardeners are being astonished at the tremendous amount of growth on their sweet pea plants, “even in sic a coorse yeer. Weel; its aa becis o a the high intak o air nitrogen; it can aften turn oot tae be anither yeer o aa growthe an nae flooer.”

Probably the largest native plant that depends on air nitrogen is the Alder tree. There is at least three times more new growth on every branch this year than what is normal; the green fruit of the female catkins are also much larger. “The St. Swithins day sayin wis richt again. (July 15th)”

St Swithins day if it shid rain

For forty days it will remain

St Swithins day should it be fair

For forty days t`will rain nae mair.

The end of the forty days arrives around St. Bartholomew day; (August 24th) “this time o the month is better kent as bein fin the bairns gyang back tae skweel. Aye; that’s faan the wither ey changes.”

Aa the tears that St. Swithin can cry

St Bartholomy`s mantle wipes them dry.

“Noo, in the Northeast ye cood aften get a quick reply and sharp reminder tae that sayin.

Aye; bit if the b****rs tint the cloot.

It’s anither forty days o rain, nae doot.

I’ve niver kent o him iver tyne the cloot.”

This year the swifts arrived late but in large numbers, most of the summer they have had to feed low over areas of water to get enough insects for survival only. This collective feeding both by swift and swallow has made it seem as if they were about to migrate. “Bit; na, they hiv kent aa alang thit better days are tae come” Over the past two weeks friends from different parts of the Buchan area and Drumoak have made mention of swifts brooding for the first time at this late stage, while many swallows are on their second brood.

“There must be an Indian summer on its wye, bit; bear in mind.

St Bartholomew, brings the caul dew.”

The Country Loon
Gleanings from a Deeside Parish

Last Newsletter mentioned a few facts about Durris in the 1950s and the old name of Dores stirred up Jenny Watson’s memory :-

Readers might be interested to know of two little booklets, published at Aberdeen in 1920, price six pence each. One has the title Gleanings from a Deeside parish by a native, subtitled Things that were ‘aft-upo’ the tongue o’ Deeside forbears auld an’ young. The other is Deeside gleanings second handful by a native, subtitled The rhymes an’ saws o’ bygone days, an’ gleaned on these fair straths an’ braes.

Here are some cameos of Durris humour circa 1861: -

A Dores man – Fat can be sen’in’ the watter (Dee) doon sae big the day?

Anither Dores man – I widna win’er but it’s Barclay ‘at’s latten oot the Loch o’ Auchlossan

Ae Cronie – Will ye len’ me a five poun’ nott, Francie?

The ither Cronie – Oh, losh, na, Geordie; I like ye ower weel for that

Dancie – (to tall mobile girl) – Stan’ steady, will ye? ye caperin’ tangle

Willie – Hard wark’s nae easy

Jamie – Wirkin’ hard’s little better

Rustic orator (having lost the thread of his oration) – Ding’t! I min’t it afore I steed up!

Another section is on sayings and phrases:-

Worthless. Nae worth a dyte, a dockan, a preen heid, a sneeshin’ pen, an auld sang, a tinker’s curse