April's Studio

03/11/2025

29/10/2025

People asked for views on short term let control area in Perth and Kinross

Residents and businesses are being asked what they think of a proposed short-term let control area in parts of Perth and Kinross.

Councillors agreed in May 2025 to proceed with the notice of a proposal for the designation of a short term let control area for Highland Perthshire and northern part of Eastern Perthshire.

A proposal for the control area has now been brought forward which the public are being encouraged to have their say on.

Highland and the northern part of Eastern Perthshire have higher concentrations of holiday rentals than other parts of Perth and Kinross. This can reduce the availability of long-term rental housing and drive property prices up, making it harder for local residents to find homes.

The control area proposal would help strike a balance between the provision of homes for local people and allowing the valued tourism industry in the area to continue to flourish.

If the proposal goes ahead, and gets approval from the Scottish Government, it will mean anyone wishing to turn a house into a new holiday let in control area would require planning permission before doing so.

This would bring these types of properties into line with flats and apartments, which already require planning permission before conversion into holiday lets.

Perth and Kinross Council Leader, Councillor Eric Drysdale, said: “Introducing a control area would give the public and elected members a say on whether a new holiday let is appropriate for a particular area.

“It won’t ban new holiday lets from coming on to the market but will ensure the impact on public services, noise and character of a neighbourhood is considered before any decision is taken.

“Tourism is a very important industry for Perth and Kinross and we want to make sure it operates in a sustainable way for the benefit of residents and visitors alike.

“If staff cannot afford to live and work in areas popular with tourists then, inevitably, tourism will suffer.

“We are keen to hear from as many people as possible regarding this proposal so Councillors can make an informed decision based on what residents and businesses think.”

The City of Edinburgh Council has a control area covering the whole council area, while Highland Council has a control area covering Badenoch and Strathspey.

You can have our say on proposals for Perth and Kinross until 19 December by visiting our consultation hub at https://consult.pkc.gov.uk/

23/09/2025

It’s always a difficult process to think about increasing prices for any business. Even after 2 years, I have tried to stretch it out for as long as I could but unfortunately when everything is going up especially utilities in October then I have to follow suit. Good news is that it’s only £1-£3 increase. And I’ve also added 75mins to allow for full body with some deep tissue. Unless you are smaller in stature, have regular massages within 3 weeks or have relaxing/Swedish massage, then this is achievable in 60mins. I have also increased the time from 4 weeks to 5 weeks for £5 off follow up appointments to meet the demand. Always a silver lining 😏. Looking forward to seeing you soon 😊April x

16/09/2025

Turning a boring supermarket egg sandwich with watercress (a mean pinch) into a healthy early 2000’s Pret-a-manger style loaded with sprouts and pinenuts. I wish I could remember what other flavour combinations they had before the takeover but they were the best! Anyway this is the best time to build up your immune system before the silly season starts, growing your own sprouts on the kitchen window sill. Nutrient powerhouse high in fibre, fantastic for your gut health and immunity. Really easy to grow and a great addition to salads, sandwiches, on your curries, or just munch on it’s own. These ones are red clover, 4 days old. Mild delicate taste. Also from (no I wasn’t paid to endorse them, don’t need to, I love that place 😁)

16/09/2025

After 7 years without having my favourite tropical fruit (I used to live in prime mango location where I could buy a dozen for around £10 equivalent) I was skeptical of any tasting as good in UK after I was served a tasteless poor excuse of A fruit. Don’t get me wrong, UK berries and plums are world class so I’ll happily replace my summer fruits for the local variety. But, when you have a craving for a childhood variety, you will bend. I was quite prepared to put it into a smoothie but when I waited over a week for it to ripen and cut into it, I was instantly transported back to the sticky hot summers by the beach! It was so good that the seed was scraped clean til it resembled Beckham’s 2002 hair cut that men worldwide hung onto for over a decade. If you want to try what it really tastes like, don’t bother with supermarkets, go to when they’re in season and wait til it is firmish to touch like the base of a texter’s thumb.

08/09/2025

One of many things I love to do on my days off is to appreciate art. As this week is Perthshire Open Studios, I went to visit while enjoying a beautiful walk over the other side of River Tay. I really enjoyed listening to Sheila’s stories and reflections behind her art over the course of 25 years. The different styles and mediums used, the evolution of the creative process and the amount of time spent on the individual art pieces. When I was at school, I didn’t appreciate visual diaries but seeing how Sheila documented the evolution of ideas to end up with a finished product really inspired me to change my mindset and give that a try. I also couldn’t resist this gorgeous picture for my massage room. Unfortunately I don’t have time this week to see many other artists but if you do, I encourage you to have a wee nosy, it’s a wonderful way to connect with an artist or few. Sheila Garden is #58 on the blue route, go to for more details

03/08/2025

This is the update for weather warning for tomorrow.

03/08/2025

I would appreciate any feedback to assist with my studies. Thank you ☺️

31/07/2025

Hey everyone. Just to let you know that Vision PK are holding a quiz night at their premises.. VisionPK, 17-19 George Street in Perth on Friday 22nd August from 7pm. £2 per person with a max team size of 6. Bring your own drinks and nibbles. Alcohol is allowed 🙂. There is a cash prize of £50 for the winning team and a raffle to win a DBB hotel stay. If you fancy a fun evening and supporting our charity please get your teams together and call 01738 626969 or email info@visionpk.org.uk to book your table 🙂 Thanks! x

NB I’m no encyclopaedia but I will still have fun losing, come and join me! 😂 it’s for a good cause after all 🤷🏻‍♀️