Live Life Aberdeenshire Conversations

Join me and learn about the Monymusk Reliquary, one of Scotland's most ancient and revered treasures.

Sit back and relax listening to the story of Glen the magic puppy told by Santa himself.

Sit back and relax listening to Santa himself telling how the magical magic dust is gathered and the many uses it has!

Do you know all the names of Santa's reindeer? And why they have those names? Find out on today's episode of Santa's stories!

Join me and hear about an unusual and unique wedding tradition in the village of St. Cyrus.

Listen to pupils from Ballater, Braemar and Crathie schools interview author David Walliams. The pupils ask David about his writing and other interesting questions. David also provides the pupils with reading recommendations and advice for getting ahead with their chosen careers too.

Grave robbing and ransom! Hear about the disturbing events that occurred in Dunecht in the late 19th century.

Aberdeenshire YMI Programme, Year 20.

Join me and learn how the Honours of Scotland were hidden in Kinneff Church during the reign of Cromwell.

Kodaly session from Aberdeenshire's Youth Music Initiative Year 20

To celebrate the opening of the refurbished Banchory Museum, we have been learning about John Junner, an audiophile who lived and worked in the Banchory area and was a big fan of James Scott Skinner. Adam Usmani has been working with children in Banchory Primary School and Hill of Banchory School, exploring how music is made and recorded

Join me and hear about Mary Elphinstone, also known as Twice buried Mary.

This is a celebration of Scotland and Aberdeenshire's Youth Music Initiative 20th Year of supporting children in Aberdeenshire to reach their creative potential; the 25 years that Macduff Marine Aquarium has been enriching us with knowledge and exploration; and the value of children's art in keeping culture alive in our communities. For more details of this project: https://www.livelifeaberdeenshire.org.uk/arts/youth-music-initiative/year-20-projects/macduff-marine-aquarium/

This is a celebration of Scotland and Aberdeenshire's Youth Music Initiative 20th Year of supporting children in Aberdeenshire to reach their creative potential; the 25 years that Macduff Marine Aquarium has been enriching us with knowledge and exploration; and the value of children's art in keeping culture alive in our communities. For more details of this project: https://www.livelifeaberdeenshire.org.uk/arts/youth-music-initiative/year-20-projects/macduff-marine-aquarium/

This is a celebration of Scotland and Aberdeenshire's Youth Music Initiative 20th Year of supporting children in Aberdeenshire to reach their creative potential; the 25 years that Macduff Marine Aquarium has been enriching us with knowledge and exploration; and the value of children's art in keeping culture alive in our communities. For more details of this project: https://www.livelifeaberdeenshire.org.uk/arts/youth-music-initiative/year-20-projects/macduff-marine-aquarium/

This is a celebration of Scotland and Aberdeenshire's Youth Music Initiative 20th Year of supporting children in Aberdeenshire to reach their creative potential; the 25 years that Macduff Marine Aquarium has been enriching us with knowledge and exploration; and the value of children's art in keeping culture alive in our communities. For more details of this project: https://www.livelifeaberdeenshire.org.uk/arts/youth-music-initiative/year-20-projects/macduff-marine-aquarium/

To find out more about our YMI Programme in Aberdeenshire, go to https://www.livelifeaberdeenshire.org.uk/arts/youth-music-initiative/

To find out more about our YMI Programme in Aberdeenshire, go to https://www.livelifeaberdeenshire.org.uk/arts/youth-music-initiative/

To find out more about our YMI Programme in Aberdeenshire, go to https://www.livelifeaberdeenshire.org.uk/arts/youth-music-initiative/

To find out more about our YMI Programme in Aberdeenshire, go to https://www.livelifeaberdeenshire.org.uk/arts/youth-music-initiative/

To find out more about our YMI Programme in Aberdeenshire, go to https://www.livelifeaberdeenshire.org.uk/arts/youth-music-initiative/

To find out more about our YMI Programme in Aberdeenshire, go to https://www.livelifeaberdeenshire.org.uk/arts/youth-music-initiative/

To find out more about our YMI Programme in Aberdeenshire, go to https://www.livelifeaberdeenshire.org.uk/arts/youth-music-initiative/

Join me and hear about a branch of the mighty Gordon family immigrate to Spain, and then return to their family home in Aberdeenshire.

Join me and learn about some interesting visitors to Peterhead, Aberdeenshire.

The sounds you will listen to in this ASMR style podcast were captured by a member of the Live Life Aberdeenshire team whilst they walked around Macduff, Aberdeenshire on a windy day. Additional sounds were also captured during a visit to the Macduff Marine Aquarium. ASMR can help you achieve a sense of calm, reduce anxiety, aid a restful night as you drift off to sleep.

Join me to learn more about what it is like to be a tour guide at Fyvie Castle.

Local Studies Centre - find out about some of the fascinating materials and resources that are available to you in the Local Studies Centre at Aberdeenshire Library Services.

We are fair trickit with 'Cedric e Flapper Skate' e new buik!  

Hot off the press and launched just recently as part of Macduff Marine Aquariums 25th anniversary shellebrations, this new storybook published by Doric Books and beautifully illustrated by local Artist Jodie Bews - Everlongart, tells the true story of how Cedric the flapper skate came to live at the aquarium.  

The book is a wonderful celebration of our local culture and natural heritage, highlighting one of our most endangered native species, have a listen and storyteller and author Jackie Ross shares her tale.

Three evocative pieces of music to celebrate the return of the 10th century Book of Deer to the northeast, in Summer 2022. Written and performed by Gordon M Hay with the Longside Ceilidh Band, the tunes follow an extensive activity programme in partnership with the Book of Deer Project, Aberdeen City Council / Aberdeen Art Gallery, the University of Cambridge, the University of Aberdeen and Cameron Archeology Ltd, with the support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Recorded at Aberdeenshire Recording Centre, Mintlaw.

The order of the songs are as follows;

1 - The arrival of the monks
2- The busy monks
3- The lost monastery

Ahead of the AJ Bell Tour of Britain 2022, Active Schools Lead Coordinator Pete Young is in conversation with Cycle Aberdeenshire Coordinator Malcolm Grant to discuss the preparations for the race arriving in Aberdeenshire and an overview of the two week Cycle Aberdeenshire programme

Claire and Catriona discuss the importance of blood pressure checks and where you can have yours done in your local community during Know Your Numbers Week 5th-9th September 2022.

Join the aquarium team as they share their standout fish stories as part of a look back through 25 years of fishy aquarium antics. 

In this Podcast, Active Schools Lead Coordinator, Pete Young, chats with Malcolm Grant (Cycling Development Coordinator) and Cara Hay (depute head at Strathburn School) about P1 Transition and the role sport and physical activity can play to help the children settle into school life.

Listen to Jackie, one of our Support Librarians talk to fellow librarians, Jane and Shirley about Summer Reading 2022.

Listen to Claire and Jackie chat about the Aberdeenshire Wellbeing Festival 2022 and Live Life Aberdeenshire's activities that are taking place from the 9th - 15th May.

You can check out the festival programme by going to https://tinyurl.com/yc4n3tfs

Join Aquarium Manager Claire Matthews and Displays Officer Chris Rowe as they discuss their careers here at Macduff Marine aquarium. Claire has been with the aquarium since it opened in 1997 and so has some great stories to share! 

Primary 7S pupils at Macduff School have been working with Deveron FM and Macduff Marine Aquarium to write and record a radio documentary celebrating 25 years of our wonderful aquarium. It's brilliant and they had a whale of a time doing it!

Deborah chats with librarian Jackie to tell her what the audience can expect from her talk at Inverurie library on the 10th March 2022.

Deborah also reads an excerpt from her debut award winning novel Hold Your Tongue.

You can attend this free author talk in person or be part of our virtual audience.  To book your place to attend in person go to https://tinyurl.com/4cuy2bxj to book your virtual place go to https://tinyurl.com/367dr6jt  

This podcast is part 2 of a conversation librarian Jackie recently had with local historical fiction author Eric R Davidson.  In this podcast Eric talks about how his work as an author has become a family affair, how he struggled with writing during lock down, and working on his next Inspector Jake Fraser book that will be coming out soon.

Eric also provides us with reading recommendations from two of his favourite American crime writers.

Author Marsali Taylor chats with librarian Jackie about her Cass Lynch series. Marsali discusses how she has managed to include Shetland as one of the main characters, how she integrates local folklore, beautiful landscapes and seasons into her books too. Marsali also talks about her new book A Shetland Winter Mystery, the fourteenth book in her Cass Lynch series.  

Another of our Book Week Scotland 2021 podcast conversations.  This time Jackie catches up with Scottish crime writer and broadcaster Theresa Talbot.  During the chat Theresa talks about the struggles of writing during lock down and author recommendations such as Scottish crime writer Douglas Skelton, US crime writer William Kent Krueger and a few other surprise recommendations too.

Listen to Alistair Lawrie recite the poem Thon Wifie wi' the Glower.

Listen to a moving recital of the poem The Soldiers' Cairn by Mary Symon read by Peter Reid.

Listen to Jacqueline, one of our librarians, deliver a beautiful recital of the poem titled Whinnyfold.  Whinnyfold is a small village located in the coast of Aberdeenshire.  

Listen to three different Doric dialects as they recite, The Muckle Spate O' Twenty-nine written by David Grant who was born 1823 in Affrusk, in the parish of Banchory-Ternan.  Alistair, Marjory and Jan read excerpts from this historical poem that depicts the tragedy which devastated the NE due to the torrential rain and thunderstorms that battered the area from the 3rd through to the 4th August.

The water levels of the local rivers Dee, Don, Deveron, Urie and Spey rose and burst their banks which led to devastation as the floods washed away homes, livestock,and belongings as well as causing loss to life.  

Listen to Mrs Rattray who contributed to the festival by volunteering to recite the poem simply titled ‘The Doric.’

Listen to Alistair Lawrie, as he introduces you to the written work of David Ogston.  This is the first in a triology of podcasts about this local author born in Ellon in 1943, who sadly passed away in 2008.  Alistair celebrates David's books, White Stone Country and Dry Stone Days that were about growing up in Buchan, and Grey Stone Zion about his student life in Aberdeen in the 60's.  The books were beautifully written in Doric and although out of print, Live Life Aberdeenshire library members can borrow these tiles from the catalogue.  

Listen to Alistair read an excerpt from the first of David Ogston's triology, White Stone Country that is written in Doric.  This book tells the tale of what it was like growing up as a young boy in Buchan.  In this excerpt David writes about his knowledge of local geography and North East towns and harsh winters that included coping with wellies and burst pipes!