Guiding News......

Ian has met and guided many famous celebrities throughout his career from far and wide, including American writer and conservationist, the late Jack Hemingway, U.S. newscaster, Tom Brokaw, British comedian and actor, Paul Whitehouse to name a few.

However, one of his highlights in 2009 was a day on Loch of Boath on the Cawdor Estate looking after and introducing members of "Take That" to the art of fly fishing.

On a bright and beautiful frosty day in early November, Ian enjoyed the company of Gary Barlow and Howard Donald, while trying to entice the elusive trout, which were keeping their heads down in the depths of the loch and not for the taking of Take That!

Actor, Jason Flemyng was also in the company of the celebrity party. After the fishing had been concluded for the day, Jason had decided on a bracing dip into the freezing waters of the Loch, much to the amusement and amazement of the other party members.

The reason for this grand occasion was that Mark Owen married his fiancée, Emma Ferguson, in the delightful Cawdor Church during a romantic candlelit ceremony on November 5th. It was a most memorable day.

Ian offers a full and comprehensive guiding service from complete beginners to experienced casters whether it's single handed rod casting for trout to single and double speycasting with the larger double handed rods.

Ian's intimate knowledge of his many and varied beats throughout the Dee, Findhorn, Spey, and Avon Rivers make him the perfect guide - dedicating time to the needs of his clients on a one to one basis over the period of a full working day offering advice and tips on improving casting technique.

You will also learn the many aspects of river craft and reading water throughout the many changing conditions of a fishing season from early Spring to late Autumn.
http://www.speycaster.net/guiding.htm

Hit West End Rock ‘n’ Roll musical Dreamboats and Petticoats has had a pretty good week, all things considered: sell out shows, a No.1 album in the compilation charts and a surprise visit from the biggest band on the planet.

Gary, Jason, Mark and Howard (on crutches) dropped by to see the show with wives and girlfriends and watch their mate and lead actor, Bradley Clarkson play the lead role of ‘Norman’.

Mark Owen said: “The show is fantastic, our parents have got to come and see it, my dad used to be in a band and he’d love all the classic hits. Really great fun!”

A spokesperson said: “Gary and Mark from Take That surprised Bradley backstage at Dreamboats and Petticoats this week on his birthday. After watching the show and joining the rest of the audience dancing in their seats, the four band members headed off to the The Dorchester hotel on Park Lane to continue the actor’s birthday celebrations. ”

One onlooker at the show said: “it was amazing to see Take That enjoying the show as much as the rest of us, they all looked really happy and relaxed.”

“It was a surprise to say the least”, laughed Bradley, “we were literally five minutes from going on stage when a message came through that I had some visitors. Suddenly the lads popped their heads around the door, talk about under pressure!”

The feel-good pop track has been scientifically proven to give listeners a lift.

New research has revealed pop really is top when it comes to banishing the blues.

The man band classic pipped Led Zeppelin’s famous Stairway to Heaven to the top of the list of best mood enhancers.

Abba’s Dancing Queen, Finally by Ce Ce Peniston and Van Halen’s Jump completed the top five songs that make us smile.

Nearly half of Brits reckon music brightens up their gloomy mornings.

And nearly a third say singing along to their favourite tune wipes away their bad feelings altogether.

Scientists monitored candidates’ brain and body reactions to 30 different pieces of music from rock to pop.

They used special equipment which measured their skin hydration levels to find out how excited they became.

Men voted Take That as one of their least favourite songs, but in the physical tests, it came out on top.

Other tracks which hit the spot include Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit, Hey Ya by Outkast and Bob Marley classic Three Little Birds.

Dr David Lewis Hodgson, of Mindlab International Laboratory, said: “Music affects people in different ways, and monitoring brain and body activity allowed us to determine the best song to give people the perfect start to the day.

“The fact that the results showed differences between the personal choices and body and brain monitoring clearly shows that people, particularly men, aren’t always keen to reveal their true taste in music.”

TV Presenter Ben Shepherd, who has teamed up with Tropicana which commissioned the research, said: “There are very few things as painful as the alarm going off first thing.

“But listening to a top tune is definitely one way of getting started with a smile on your face.”

Top Ten mood-boosting songs:

1. Greatest Day - Take That

2. Stairway to Heaven - Led Zeppelin

3. Dancing Queen - Abba

4. Finally - Ce Ce Peniston

5. Jump - Van Halen

6. Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana

7. How D’Ya Like Your Eggs - Dean Martin.

8. Hey Ya - Outkast

9. Rhapsody In Blue - George Gershwin

10. Three Little Birds - Bob Marley.
http://dailystar.co.uk/news....a-boost

The band were tipped for the prestigious slot after Gary Barlow’s best pal was put in charge of organising the event.

Choreographer Kim Gavin, who masterminded several of the band’s tours, was last night named the artistic director for the Olympic and Paralympic games.

And Gary, 40, hinted the lads were on the verge of an invitation to play.

The singer said: “He hasn’t asked us to be in the show, yet.” Gary added: “Me and the guys are thrilled that Kim has been asked to create the closing ceremony.

“We know with him in charge it’s going to be one great celebration.

“We’re very proud of our live shows and Kim has always been at the very heart of their creation.”

Kim also hinted at a Take That appearance and slammed the closing ceremony of the Beijing games in 2008.

He said: “I can’t remember a single tune.

“Stylistically, it was faultless but if you looked at the audience in the stadium, they were not engrossed.

“My objective is to make sure that doesn’t happen in London. I want to engage my audience.”

Lady GaGa’s stage and costume designer Es Devlin, 39, and film composer David Arnold, 49, will also help organise the shows.

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/posts....top-job