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Ayr Spice Indian Restaurant offers two special Valentine’s Day menus

Admin — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 00:04:01 +0000

Celebrity TV chef Mafiz Ali has concocted not just one, but TWO enchantingly romantic menus at Ayr Spice Indian Restaurant in Minishant, South Ayrshire to celebrate St Valentine‘s Day on Tuesday 14 February.

And the restaurant’s history and beautiful setting will add additional touches of spice and romance to what will undoubtedly be a night to remember for everyone fortunate enough to be there.

For Ayr Spice Indian Cuisine is housed in the fine old red sandstone Memorial church at the entrance to the picturesque village of Minishant, 5 miles south of Ayr on the A77. The church was erected by the thread magnate Sir Peter Coats of nearby Auchendrane, in loving memory of his wife Glorianna, who died in 1877.

The special St Valentine’s Day menu will be available from Friday 19 February to Saturday 18 February by prior booking only. Normal A la carte menu always available.

Ayr Spice Bangladeshi Restaurant, Minishant
St Valentine’s Day, 2012
Candle-light dinner
Welcome rose and a glass of sparkling (Asti) for each couple

Set meal A: £16.95

Starters:

* Honey Dew Melon
* Machli roll (spicy mashed fish roll)
* Piaza Bora (onion bhaji) – onion and ground lentils deep-fried with herbs and spices
* Tikka Delight – an assortment of chicken and lamb tikka and sheek kebab served on a sizzler

Main courses:

* Sally Jadalo chicken or lamb cooked in honey and apricot (Mafiz’s own recipe)
* Badami Passanda chicken or lamb – tender lamb or chicken marinated in yogurt in a special blend of herbs, spices and almonds in a light and creamy sauce with a dash of red wine.
* Chicken or lamb Tofa – a very special dish from the Chilaura district – roasted pieces of chicken or lamb cooked with green chillies, tamarind, fresh coriander and green pepper and served with an aromatically-spiced sauce.
* Shobji special Kufta – lightly-spiced mixed vegetables cooked in a spicy sauce with baked tomato and capsicum and garnished with spring-onion and coriander.

Coconut, lemon or fried rice
Choice of naan bread

Set meal B: £19.95

Starters:

* Tandoori lamb chops (lamb chops in a specially-prepared spice sauce)
* Priya Goshty roll – lamb or chicken cooked with fresh onion and spices and served with a lightly-fried Puri-bread.
* Bengali stir-fry – delicious filet of fresh-water fish marinated in Ayr Spice “Spicy sauce” with fresh herbs and grilled in a charcoal oven.
* Salmon samosa

Main courses:

* Mango extra murgi korma – chicken with almonds and sliced mango cooked in a rich, creamy sauce with a dash of “Grand Marnier” – the perfect Valentine’s special!
* Tetul Tanga – chicken, lamb or vegetable Kofta cooked in a home-made spicy and sour sauce creating a unique flavour and garnished with spring-onion and coriander – highly recommended!
* Beef Shatkova Bhuna – beef slice cooked with Shatkova (citrus fruit) from the Sylhet region of Bangladesh with a unique, authentic, sour flavour.
* Tikka sliced chicken or lamb – barbecued lamb or chicken cooked with mushrooms, green peppers, onion and selected herbs (Jagannath pur style)

Mafiz’s special rice, lemon or fried rice
Choice of naan bread

Desserts:

* Gulab jam
* Kufi – Bangladeshi ice-cream

BOOKING:

Mafiz Ali
Ayr Spice Indian Restaurant
The Old Minishant Memorial Church
22 Ayr Road
Minishant
Ayrshire
KA19 8EX

Tel: 01292 441 413

Web: www.ayrspice.info

Ayrshire Scotland Business News

Methamphetamine Detox – Is It Time To Start?

Admin — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 16:37:43 +0000

With methamphetamines being the signature drug addiction scourge of the past ten to fifteen years, the need for methamphetamine detoxification is a vital public health concern. At the same time, adverse changes in insurance coverage and budget cuts to local governments have worked to squeeze access to needed treatment, especially for younger people. Those suffering this addiction have to work harder to find out about their problem and discover what treatment options are available to them.

Military Use

Methamphetamines became prominent during the 1930s and 1940s but especially during World War II when they were given to both German and Japanese soldiers by their governments to help them stay awake for prolonged periods. The drug gave heightened alertness and energy but at a significant cost to health. Meth use is known to cause damage to the small blood vessels in the human brain, potentially leading to strokes. It also inflames the lining of the heart.

Symptoms

Methamphetamine abusers often go without sleep for days and can be full of nervous energy. That dubious benefit doesn’t come cheaply. The short-term price is reddened, sunken eyes, aged skin pocked with sores and cracks, especially at the lips. Like heroin users, methamphetamine use develops a constant need to scratch all over their bodies.

Long-Term

As the addiction progresses, the methamphetamine addict may experience hallucinations. These hallucinations may be both visual and aural and won’t necessarily coincide with the smoking of the drug but may occur sporadically as a result of damage done to the brain tissue. Further, the addict can expect to develop one of the most typical symptoms of long-term abuse, an alarming loss of weight and tooth decay in all teeth simultaneously.

Emotional Addiction

Therapists have learned that in treating addicted patients, it isn’t enough to address only physical aspects of their addiction. They have learned that meth, the “party drug”, creates in its abusers an addiction to the lifestyle surrounding that abuse that is as significant as the drug’s pharmacological effects. This is an abuse that creates small, close-knit and mutually-reinforcing communities of abusers. Those within these communities grow attached to their late-night drug culture.

Negative Social Bond

Accordingly, it is ideal for therapy to take place somewhere outside the abuser’s familiar city or town. Separation is necessary so the therapist might work on disentangling him or her not just from the toxin, but also from the toxic social life that has become all too familiar.

Types of Therapy

Treatment can be both individual, working one on one with a therapist, and in methamphetamine group counseling. One on one therapy is best for sorting the problems that underlie the addiction. These include compulsiveness, being overwhelmed with fears and a diminished sense of self. Group and then aftercare treatment is a good environment for identifying the events that trigger patients to seek and use the drug.

Falkirk: Bairns Learn History?

Admin — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 12:35:49 +0000

Falkirk face Celtic in a semi-final knowing that Kilmarnock lie in wait in the final.

It’s the 1997 Scottish Cup all over again. History doesn’t repeat itself, does it?

Mind you, Falkirk don’t have the best of records in the league cup. They qualified for the second final back in 1947/48 and promptly lost 4-1 in a replay against Second Division East Fife.

Celtic, meanwhile, have won the trophy 14 times and played in 28 finals.

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JAMES BYRNE HAS TWO-UNDER–PAR 70 ON ASIAN TOUR DEBUT

Admin — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:07:52 +0000

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE ASIAN TOUR
Yangon: Ben Fox of the United States reaped the benefits of extra hours put in the gym when he shot a sparkling eight-under-par 64 to share the first round lead at the Zaykabar Myanmar Open presented by Air Bagan today.
Fox fired a flawless round with eight birdies that was matched by Australians Scott Hend, who has won once on the Asian Tour and former European Tour and Nationwide Tour player Wade Ormsby at the Royal Mingalardon Golf and Country Club.
Chinnarat Phadungsil of Thailand, a three-time Asian Tour winner, was a further shot back with Asian Tour graduate Kim Gi-whan of South Korea in the US0,000 event, returning on the Asian Tour schedule after a one-year lapse.
Fox, who is searching for his first Asian Tour victory, credited the hard work in the gym during the off-season for his fast start.
“I worked hard in the off-season. I don’t like working out during the season but during the break I was hitting it hard in the gym and on the practice range. I tried to get a little bit stronger in the gym and it is showing because I’m hitting it 10 or 15 yards further this year,” said the 24-year-old.
Playing in his third year on the Asian Tour, Fox made a 25-feet chip-in birdie from the edge of the seventh hole to tie for the lead.
“It was one of my goals coming into the year to get off to a good start more frequently. It is nice to kind of done that in the first week. Obviously, you just don’t plan on shooting eight-under but it was a nice round. I got off to a good start and just kept it going,” said Fox, who missed only two greens in regulation today.
Hend, who is among 15 Australians in the field this week, predicts a low scoring week as he aims to end a three-year title drought.
“I hit good shots and holed my putts. I missed a couple but you can’t complain when you shoot an eight-under. This is the first round of the year and this is a nice round to put away because it is going to be a low score that wins the tournament.
“To put eight birdies out of the way, I’m probably going to need another 12 birdies in the next three days,” said Hend, winner of the of the 2008 Pertamina Indonesia President Invitational.
Like his co-leaders, Ormsby was also bogey-free in a round which he described as boring. He earned his Asian Tour card at Qualifying School this year and hopes to get his career back on track after losing playing status in Europe.
“I just kept giving myself chances. I had a bit of run on 15, 16 and 17. It was pretty boring golf actually but managed to hole the putts,” said Ormsby.
“Asia is good. I played a lot out here through the co-sanctioned events previously. Asia is a lot closer to Australia so it makes it feel a little bit like half an Australian Tour! It is nice Tour and I’m looking forward to the year,” he added.
Asian Tour rookie Kim of Korea made four straight birdies from the 14th hole but was disappointed not to share the lead after making his only blemish of the day on the ninth hole.
“That stretch of birdies was good because it gave me the confident to keep going. My putting was great. I sank all my putts inside 10 feet so that was good except on the last hole,” said the 21-year-old, who played in Japan last year.
“I wanted to play on the Asian Tour because many Koreans have tasted success here like Noh Seung-yul and K.J. Choi. I hope I can be like them,” added Kim.
SCOTSWATCH: Banchory’s James Byrne marked his debut on the Asian Tour with a two-under-par round of 70, which included five birdiews – at the first, long fifth, long 14th, short 15th and long 18th in halves of 37-33. All his bogeys came before the turn – at the fourth, seventh and ninth.

LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 72. Yardage 7,218
64 Scott HEND (AUS), Ben FOX (USA), Wade ORMSBY (AUS).
65 Chinnarat PHADUNGSIL (THA), KIM Gi-whan (SKOR).
66 Kiradech APHIBARNRAT (THA), Prom MEESAWAT (THA), Chris RODGERS (ENG).
67 BAEK Seuk-hyun (SKOR), Kodai ICHIHARA (JPN), Daisuke MARUYAMA (JPN), Thaworn WIRATCHANT (THA), Joon LEE (SKOR), Martin ROMINGER (SUI), Simon GRIFFITHS (ENG), Arnond VONGVANIJ (THA), Rick KULACZ (AUS), Masanori KOBAYASHI (JPN), Namchok TANTIPOKHAKUL (THA).
Selected scores
69 Tetsuji HIRATSUKA (JPN), Niall Turner (IRE).
70 James Byrne (Sco), Stephen Lewton (Eng) (T43)

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES

CLICK HERE

Scottish Golf View – Golf News from Scotland

CKD Galbraith report encouraging 2012 start for Ayrshire housing market

Admin — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 02:35:10 +0000

Scotland’s leading independent property consultancy, CKD Galbraith has reported a slightly more positive start to the year than expected, having experienced an encouraging level of activity in the Ayrshire property market.

Following research conducted by CKD Galbraith’s Ayr office for the first month of 2012, the firm noted an increase in the number of property viewings and new applicants registering.

The number of property viewings during January 2012 is up 50% on the same period for 2011, whilst the number of new buyers registered with the firm and actively seeking property in Ayrshire has increased by 63%.

Throughout 2011, CKD Galbraith sold property in excess of £200million across the whole of Scotland and the like-for-like data for 2011 compared to 2010 showed that viewing figures were up last year for the firm as a whole by a staggering 148%, with the number of properties sold during 2011 increasing by 16%.

Bob Cherry (pictured above), partner of CKD Galbraith and head of residential in the Ayr office said: “We have been encouraged by the recent more positive interest we have witnessed recently for the start of the year, and we hope that this might indicate a degree of confidence returning to the property market.

“There are serious buyers out there willing to purchase, but it remains very much a buyer’s market, so it is critical that property is priced accordingly and professional marketing is more important than ever. We believe now may prove the right time to buy.”

Prices achieved for all properties sold by the firm during 2012 were, like 2011, on average within 0.5% of the asking price, highlighting the firm’s unrivalled local knowledge of the market and expertise in setting prudent valuations.

There are currently over 2400 active buyers registered on the firm’s advanced marketing database with approximately 20% being cash buyers.

A recent example of a positive property sale in the area is Duisk Lodge (pictured above) by Barrhill, Ayrshire, a delightful country house in private wooded grounds. It was marketed at offers over £225,000 and sold at the closing date for £311,000 in October 2011 after receiving four offers of interest.

Currently for sale through CKD Galbraith’s Ayr office at offers over £180,000 is Nether Failford (pictured above) in South Ayrshire, an attractive Victorian Coach House requiring complete refurbishment in a sought after rural location. This property recently came on to the market at the beginning of January and has already received 36 viewings and five notes of interest.

About CKD Galbraith

CKD Galbraith is an independent property consultancy specialising in serving the needs of private clients. It employs over 200 people in offices in Edinburgh, Stirling, Perth, Cupar, Inverness, Aberfeldy, Castle Douglas, Ayr, Elgin, Galashiels, Kelso and Peebles.

The partnership provides the full range of property consulting services across the commercial, residential and rural sectors throughout Scotland. The company enjoys a successful relationship with its associate firm in London, CKD Kennedy Macpherson.

The company’s rural arm specialises in farm sales and purchases, the management and sale of large estates and woodland, valuations and building surveying work.

www.ckdgalbraith.co.uk

CKD Galbraith’s Ayr Office is a Founder Member of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle.

Ayrshire Scotland Business News

Alloway steps back in time to celebrate life of Burns

Admin — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 03:25:08 +0000

The fourth Alloway 1759 event on Sunday 29 January celebrating the birth and life of Scotland’s national Bard, Robert Burns has again been hailed as a resounding success.

People from all over South Ayrshire and some from well beyond, enjoyed sights, sounds and tastes from a bygone era, marking the work and legend of the nation’s greatest Scot.

Opening the event, South Ayrshire Provost Winifred Sloan (pictured above said: “Alloway 1759 is now in its fourth year – having been created to mark the Year of Homecoming in 2009 – and it has fast become a ‘must see’ attraction.

“Alloway village was transformed into a time gone by and it really added to the fun family event. There really was something for everyone to enjoy, music, poetry, acting, singing, dancing, walks and much more.

“The work of Burns was brought to life and everyone had a great time.”

Councillor Margaret Toner, Portfolio Holder for Economic Development, Tourism and Leisure for South Ayrshire Council said: “Every year this excellent event keeps growing, with new and innovative ideas on ways to celebrate the life and works of Robert Burns.

“It is now an established part of the national Winter Festivals programme, offering an afternoon as much about fun and celebration as it is about inspiration, education and information and I think that’s exactly how Rabbie himself would have wanted it.”

“South Ayrshire Council is committed to encouraging tourism and the promotion of all that we do best – and what better way to put the area on the map so early in the New Year than celebrating the life, work and legacy that is Rabbie Burns?”

Events in Alloway took place in and around Burns Cottage and the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum and many of them were free. Visitors enjoyed celtic music, Ayrshire Farmers Market, Maybole Pipe Band, the arrival of Rabbie, an outdoor Ceilidh, Hipshot theatre company, Alloway Amble, poetry recitals, singing, haggis hurling and much more.

All weekend there were guided tours of Rozelle House available.

Alloway 1759 was the first of two annual events in South Ayrshire celebrating Burns.

The next event, the Burns an’ a’ that! Festival will take place from Wednesday 30 May to Sunday 3 June 2012.

For information about events in South Ayrshire CLICK HERE

South Ayrshire Council is a Founder Member of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle.

Ayrshire Scotland Business News

Andy Ritchie and the Scottish Mavericks

Admin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:40:36 +0000

I’m slaving away trying to come up with a greatest Scottish league XI for the The Away End’s current search for the best of the best.

I’ve actually already had my vote but now I’ve been asked to put something down in writing and I find myself with too many names, too many options.

Should I only vote for players I’ve seen? That restriction would still allow for a hell of a team.

A team that would remind us of the gems we’ve cherished amid the gloom of the last 25 years.

Then there are the players who, through an accident of birth, I didn’t see play. But I thrill to their stories and I’m convinced at least some of them should be included.

And, this being a Scottish league XI, there are those players whose legends are confined only to this country. Or even to their own clubs.

Willie Hamilton would fit in here. Not many more than a 100 league appearances for Hearts, Hibs and Hamilton. An abbreviated career and one often spent at hungover odds with his bosses. But Jock Stein and Pat Stanton reckoned him to be one of the most talented players they’d ever seen. Not bad judges those two.

Perhaps they provide a persuasive argument for the inclusion of a maverick.

A maverick like Hamilton. Or like Chic Charnley, arriving at Old Trafford with his boots in a plastic bag, leaving Billy McNeill to shake his head and ask “if only?”

Chic, scoring from the halfway line, thrilling fans enough for a fanzine cover to tag Pelé the “black Chic Charnley.

Chic, getting chased on the training pitch by a man wielding a Samurai sword.

Or a maverick like Andy Ritchie?

When David Beckham was in his free-kick scoring pomp for Manchester United it was Morton’s Ritchie that Alex Ferguson chose to compare him to.

Overweight, moody, lazy. When I hear Ritchie described in such terms I warm to him more and more.

I’m increasingly thinking that my team must include such a richly talented loose cannon.

But which one?

Hamilton? Charnley? Ritchie? Or is there another maverick I can’t afford to ignore?

Enjoy Andy Ritchie doing what he did his best. And then let me know your thoughts: which of the Scottish league irregulars should I be prepared to try and tame as I manage the greatest Scottish league XI of all time?

Have your greatest Scottish XI say at The Away End

The Scottish Football Blog

Falkirk v Celtic

Admin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 05:07:05 +0000

Saturday 15th October 2011.

Celtic, fresh from a defeat at Tynecastle, are 3-0 down at half time to Kilmarnock.

Winning the title looks a long way off, Neil Lennon’s managerial coat seems to hang on an ever shooglier peg.

They came back to draw 3-3, three goals in a 10 minute burst from Anthony Stokes and Charlie Mulgrew salvaging a point. And, with hindsight, transforming a season.

That draw was the start of a run that has seen Celtic lose just one game in 21. That defeat came against Atletico Madrid in the Europa League. The last point they dropped in the SPL was at home to Hibs on 29th October.

Along the way they’ve scored 41 goals across four competitions and conceded – including those three at Rugby Park – just 13.

An emphatic turnaround powered by form that looks – from this distance at least – to carry treble winning potential.

That, for Falkirk, is the depressing reality that punctures dreams of semi final glory at Hampden today.

Lose a two goal lead and then beat Rangers in injury time. Come from behind in extra time to beat Dundee United on penalties.

And then face another mountain to climb at Hampden. If Falkirk are to get to the league cup final they’ll have done it the hard way.

Neil Lennon has been a model of admiration on the topic of Falkirk and their manager Steven Pressley this week.

Even allowing for hackneyed managerial chat – and, perhaps, attempts to defuse any lingering ill-feeling from a past personality clash – it’s easy to see why.

Written off and the butt of a thousand internet jokes, Pressley has persevered. Instructed to cut his cloth in line with Falkirk’s poverty, he’s built a young team with determination and imagination. Today’s semi final is a just reward.

A just reward but a mission just about impossible. It’s true that Celtic’s recent run has been hugely impressive without being scintillating in every game.

But they win and they win and they win. Celtic could have an off day, Falkirk could play as well they’ve ever played. And Celtic might still find a way past them. It’s a habit they’ve got at the moment and it’s proving a hard one to break.

Maybe if Falkirk can get an early goal, maybe…

Another semi final, another win for an SPL club. I’d not bet against it.

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Ayr Racecourse stages Winter Warmer Raceday

Admin — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 17:33:12 +0000

Ayr Racecourse stages its third January meeting on Monday 30 January with the Winter Warmer Raceday due off at 12.50pm with the opening race The BetVictor.com Novices’ Hurdle.

There will be eight races on the card and the feature race is the BetVictor.com Handicap Hurdle Race due off at 3.25pm.

Leading trainers at the track Jim Goldie, Lucinda Russell and Donald McCain should all have runners and the afternoon ends with the Best Odds Guaranteed At BetVictor.com Standard National Hunt Flat Race for conditional and amateur jockeys.

Ayr raced on Tuesday 17 January with Donald McCain and Jason Maguire teaming up for a double initiated by Lexi’s Boy (5/2) in the BetVictor.com Maiden Hurdle followed by Total Rebellion (16/1) in the Play Casino At BetVictor.com Novices’ Handicap Hurdle.

A hefty gamble was landed on Yes Tom (7/4 fav) in the Bet Mobile At BetVictor.com Novices Chase for County Antrim based trainer Roy Wilson and jockey Paddy Brennan. Biggest priced winner on the day was Shooting Times (25/1) for Dumfries trainer Andrew Parker and young jockey Robert McCarth.

Find out more about the Winter Warmer Raceday: CLICK HERE

Ayr Racecourse and the associated Western House Hotel are Founder Members of The Elite Ayrshire Business Circle.

Ayrshire Scotland Business News

KYLE STANLEY LEADS US PGA TOUR EVENT BY FIVE STROKES

Admin — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 05:54:11 +0000

Kyle Stanley has gone five shots clear of the field with only Sunday’s final round to come in this weekend’s US PGA Tour event, the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines, California.
Stanley shot a third-round 68 for an 18-under-par 54-hole tally of 198.
Nearest challenges are fellow Americans John Huh and John Rollins on 203.
Justin Rose is the leading Englishman in joint 25th place on 209.
Russell Knox did not survive the 36-hole cut. Neither did Phil Mickelson!

THIRD-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 216 (3×72)
Players from US unless stated
198 Kyle Stanley 62 68 68.
203 John Huh 64 71 68, John Rollins 70 65 68.
204 Bill Haas 63 71 70, Sang-Moon Bae (South Korea) 65 67 72.
Selected scores
209 Justin Rose (England) 71 68 70 (T25)
213 Greg Owen (England) 75 67 71, Gary Christian (England) 72 70 71 (T57)

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES ON THE US PGA TOUR WEBSITE

CLICK HERE

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