The sea was still angry in Stonehaven on Sunday 23rd Dec. The above video shows the waves at the harbour where the MRI and the Boathouse suffered extensive damage last week. With the River Carron also bursting it's banks and causing flooding locals were praying things would calm down.

Stonehaven suffered again as the river Carron broke it's banks just after 2.30 am on Sunday 23rd December 2012.Emergency services were quickly on the scene. The short video above shows Arbuthnott St and Bridgefield as one Business owner clears her shop and the Emergency services tries to clear the water and debris.

The High Street in the old town was flooded again only 3 years after the devastation caused by floods in Dec 2009. 40 homes had to be evacuated. This is where the Fireballs Festival is due to take place  at Hogmanay - just over a week's time. The town is devastated but the local community are rallying round to help where they can

Scottish pupils stranded in New York as Hurricane Sandy closes in
The group of 10 students from Stonehaven's Mackie Academy flew to the city last week to take part in a mock trials competition but have now been confined to their hotel as the weather closes in. Hurricane Sandy is threatening 50 million people .......Click link above for more information.

On Saturday 7th July John Carnie, guitarist and singer living in Aberdeen will visit Stonehaven  to launch his Scottish Guitar Tutor at The Stonehaven Folk Festival.

Although he is a very accomplished flatpicking guitarist, specialising in Scottish traditional music he is also known for his blues guitar playing and singing and mixing of the two traditions.

If you like flatpicking guitar then his recent CD "Far From Home is a must buy" It is a treasure trove of Scotland's musical heritage, showcasing jigs and reels some with a bluesy twist

You can meet John at Celtic Chords in Barclay Street from 12noon or find out more at www.johncarnie.com

Lots to do in Stonehaven in the last week in June.

Band Night with Live Music in Town Hall on Sat 23rd June
Stoney Jazz Cafe in Town Hall on Sunday Afternoon from 2pm
You can bring the family and be entertained by the popular singer Cindy Douglas. Free entry
More details of these events can be found at http://www.stonehaventownhall.org.uk/Events.html

Also taking place at Minerallwell Park is the RW Thomson Car Rally a must visit for all car enthusiasts
The Drumtochty Highland Games takes place in the ground of Drumtochty Castle, 12 miles from Stonehaven on Sat 23rd June. See www.drumtochtyhighlandgames.com

Next Saturday 30th June sees the return of the Continental Market in the Market Square for 2 days.


 .A Car Boot Sale will be held on Margaret Street on Sun 1st July.

Also on Sunday 1st July the Stonehaven Half Marathon which attracts runners from all over.

Let's hope the weather improves.

Stonehaven's Ury Players Present "Allo Allo" on Thursday 14th June & Friday 15th June at 7.30pm at Stonehaven Town Hall

This is a stage version of 'Allo 'Allo' which was a hugely popular TV comedy series. It follows the adventures of René, the hapless café owner in war-torn occupied France, as he and his wife, Edith, struggle to keep for themselves a priceless portrait stolen by the Nazis and kept in their cellar.

Well worth seeing

Tickets are vailable from the Rose Bowl, Barclay Street or on the door.Only £8.00

Visit the Ury Players Website for more information

The Ship Inn Bar at Stonehaven Harbour has just completed major refurbishment. You would never believe this place was originally built in 1771. An extension to the rear has provided brand new Ladies and Gents plus a separated Disabled Toilet. The bar was reopened ahead of Schedule on Friday 20th April at 8pm.


Owner Simon Cruickshank, while accepting it is impossible to please everybody, said he was delighted with the comments from his customers. eg

"I was worried the pub would lose it's atmosphere but although it is fresh and clean, the old atmosphere is still there.
Over the last two years this Inn which was built in 1771 has added a new Restaurant and taken over the building next door and created five new well appointed bedrooms as well as refurbishing the existing rooms.
More information at www.shipinnstonehaven.com 

Big plans for Hogmanay 2012 in Stonehaven. The Fireballs Festival continues to attract 8 - 10,000 people and attracts world wide interest. Between 2000 and 2010 An Open Air in the Square Event also took place but in 2011 this did not take place due to lack of volunteers.

Local hotel owner Michelle Ward has taken up the challenge of organising the event this year and is building up great support from local organisations. She has already booked the Red Hot Chilli Pipers to headline the Event and lots of other initiatives are planned.
See Red Hot Chilli Pipers in action on video below


More details will be announced later.

You will be amazed at the anagrams below I have just come across;-

PRESBYTERIAN When you rearrange the letters becomes - BEST IN PRAYER 

ASTRONOMER becomes MOON STARER

DESPERATION becomes A ROPE ENDS IT

THE EYES becomes THEY SEE 

GEORGE BUSH becomes HE BUGS GORE

THE MORSE CODE becomes HERE COME DOTS

DORMITORY becomes DIRTY ROOM  

SLOT MACHINES becomes CASH LOST IN ME

ANIMOSITY becomes IS NO AMITY

ELECTION RESULTS becomes LIES - LET'S RECOUNT

SNOOZE ALARMS becomes ALAS !  NO MORE Z'S

A DECIMAL POINT becomes I'M A DOT IN PLACE

THE EARTHQUAKES becomes THAT QUEER SHAKE

ELEVEN PLUS TWO becomes TWELVE PLUS ONE

And for the grand finale::

MOTHER-IN-LAW becomes WOMAN HITLER  


Quite Clever Eh!

Last night Wed 29th February 2012 was the last night of the Heugh Hotel. The new owners will be converting it back to a private house. On behalf of Stonehaven Business Association, I was delighted to present the owners with personalised gifts for all their support in providing us with rooms for our regular meetings.
The Hermans family ran the hotel for 28 years.

The property is to become a private house. It is sad to lose another hotel in Stonehaven but the new owners will no doubt be delighted with their new home.

I'll have to make sure I don't forget and wander in for a pint some night.

Travelling to Stonehaven from Aberdeen by public transport after a night out in Aberdeen has not been possible recentlt so it is good to hear that from  12th March 2012, a late night bus service will be introduced.

The service will run Monday to Saturday and will leave Union Square in Aberdeen every hour from 00:40am to 2:40am.

The bus will make a number of stops in Portlethen and Newtonhill.
Fares will be;
Aberdeen as far as and including Portlethen- £5.00
Aberdeen to Newtonhill / Stonehaven -£7.00.
People attending concerts or shows in Aberdeen will welcome this new service.

Stonehaven will host its first ever Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Mile on Sunday 25 th March 2012
Setting off from Mineralwell Park the Stonehaven Mile will pass through Mineralwell . Entrants don’t have to be sporty to take part, but can choose to complete 1, 3 or 6 miles knowing that all the money raised will help to change the lives of people living unimaginably tough lives right here on our doorstep, across the rest of the UK and in some the world’s poorest countries.From teeny-tots with their mums and dads, to super sprinters up against the clock there’s something for everyone on the big day.
Carol McLaren from Aberdeenshire Council said: “The Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Mile in Stonehaven is here and it’s your time to shine.
 
This is the first Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Mile in Stonehaven and it’s set to be a great event. So come on, pull your Sport Relief socks up, enter the Mile and do something amazing!”
Sport Relief has a unique history of dedicated people doing extraordinary things to rise to the challenge. Last September, David Walliams started Sport Relief off with an epic splash when he completed The BT Sport Relief Challenge: Walliams vs The Thames. Despite battling a nasty bacterial bug and bitingly cold water, David swam a staggering 140 miles and has so far raised over £1 million for Sport Relief. And that’s not all; there will be even more amazing celebrity challenges to get the whole nation geared up for the Sport Relief weekend!
The Sport Relief Weekend kicks off on Friday March 23 when everyone gets active, has fun and raises cash at home, at work or at school; before settling down to watch a night of top Sport Relief TV on BBC One. There will be even more BBC radio, online and TV coverage throughout the weekend to keep you entertained. By the end of the weekend everyone will be raring to go, when the whole nation comes together to take part in the Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Mile. To enter the Mineralwell Mile visit http://www.sportrelief.com/