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Staff at Dee Valley Confectioners were left Spinning Around after after receiving a visit from a very famous guest who popped in for some boiled fruit sweets and a bag of soor plooms.
Dee Valley Confectioners welcomed pop star Kylie Minogue to their store at Station Square, Ballater.
The singer was in the area to watch a local pipe band but visited the shop to pick up a few fruit mixtures before posing for a picture for stunned staff.
Wendy Anderson, who has worked for the confectioners for 30 years, said Kylie parked up her Range Rover outside the shop before coming in with two friends.
“I didn’t know who she was at first,” said Wendy. “But as she was leaving I asked ‘are you who I think you are?’
“She said yes so I asked her for a photo. I recommended a few local restaurants but I don’t know if she went.”
“It’s good for Ballater. It’s exactly a year ago today that the village was flooded so it’s good.
“She’s been down in the village and has had photographs taken with quite a lot of people.”
Lucy Lafferty, owner of The MacNab outdoor shop, admitted it had taken her a moment to recognise the petite blonde.
“I didn’t recognise her straight away, but I did get her autograph once I realised,” she said.
“She’s celebrating New Year up here somewhere, but I think she was hoping to keep a low profile – maybe that’s why she bought a hat.”
It is not clear where the star is staying whilst in the north-east, or if she will be attending any of the Hogmanay parties planned for the area.
A staff member at the Craigendarroch Resort would neither confirm nor deny if Kylie was staying there, adding: “We would not comment on any of our guests.”
Dee Valley Confectioners welcomed pop star Kylie Minogue to their store at Station Square, Ballater.
The singer was in the area to watch a local pipe band but visited the shop to pick up a few fruit mixtures before posing for a picture for stunned staff.
Wendy Anderson, who has worked for the confectioners for 30 years, said Kylie parked up her Range Rover outside the shop before coming in with two friends.
“I didn’t know who she was at first,” said Wendy. “But as she was leaving I asked ‘are you who I think you are?’
“She said yes so I asked her for a photo. I recommended a few local restaurants but I don’t know if she went.”
“It’s good for Ballater. It’s exactly a year ago today that the village was flooded so it’s good.
“She’s been down in the village and has had photographs taken with quite a lot of people.”
Lucy Lafferty, owner of The MacNab outdoor shop, admitted it had taken her a moment to recognise the petite blonde.
“I didn’t recognise her straight away, but I did get her autograph once I realised,” she said.
“She’s celebrating New Year up here somewhere, but I think she was hoping to keep a low profile – maybe that’s why she bought a hat.”
It is not clear where the star is staying whilst in the north-east, or if she will be attending any of the Hogmanay parties planned for the area.
A staff member at the Craigendarroch Resort would neither confirm nor deny if Kylie was staying there, adding: “We would not comment on any of our guests.”
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So the news is ... a famous person went shopping. What next? Dame Shirley Bassey has a cup of tea?
A famous person went shopping in a wee village, engaged positively with the locals, brought a smile to their faces and gave everyone a nice story to talk about for the next few days.
Alternatively, we could read about former footballer in drunken brawl in bar.
I should be so lucky
Alternatively, we could read about former footballer in drunken brawl in bar.
I should be so lucky
And you didn't even bother to ask what a soor ploom is 
There was also a different version of the same story in the local newspaper with the following headline :
Kylie Minogue visit helps north-east family end nightmare year on a high.
Kylie also helped one young mum round off a year of hell with a smile, cuddling up to precious Ethan Vaughan who was born three months early weighing just 2lb 3oz.
The touching scene could not have been more different to last year, when the River Dee raced down the high street in the midst of Storm Frank, sweeping away homes, businesses and even caravans.
For Jade Vaughan – who returned to the village for the first time since her family home was hit by the floods – meeting the pop star made the trip all the more special.
The 27-year-old said: She was absolutely lovely and more than happy to hold Ethan. I just thought it was too good an opportunity to miss, her holding this miracle baby, because he certainly is.”
Kylie Minogue visit helps north-east family end nightmare year on a high.
Kylie also helped one young mum round off a year of hell with a smile, cuddling up to precious Ethan Vaughan who was born three months early weighing just 2lb 3oz.
The touching scene could not have been more different to last year, when the River Dee raced down the high street in the midst of Storm Frank, sweeping away homes, businesses and even caravans.
For Jade Vaughan – who returned to the village for the first time since her family home was hit by the floods – meeting the pop star made the trip all the more special.
The 27-year-old said: She was absolutely lovely and more than happy to hold Ethan. I just thought it was too good an opportunity to miss, her holding this miracle baby, because he certainly is.”
Ethan was born 11 weeks early on August 31, and spent weeks in the intensive care unit at Arrowe Park Hospital in Merseyside before finally being allowed home.
It meant the family were able to introduce the tot to his grandparents Lesley and Eck McCracken, who have spent much of 2016 rebuilding their home after the floods. Little did they know he would also get the chance to meet a global star too.
Mrs Vaughan added: “This has just made our Christmas even more special, especially after the year we have had.
“Seeing my family home getting flooded out and having to spend so much time in hospital with Ethan, we didn’t even know if he was going to make it.”
The mother-of-two said the I Should Be So Lucky singer had told her she would love a cuddle, and was honoured to be holding the baby – before cooing over his beautiful cheeks.
It meant the family were able to introduce the tot to his grandparents Lesley and Eck McCracken, who have spent much of 2016 rebuilding their home after the floods. Little did they know he would also get the chance to meet a global star too.
Mrs Vaughan added: “This has just made our Christmas even more special, especially after the year we have had.
“Seeing my family home getting flooded out and having to spend so much time in hospital with Ethan, we didn’t even know if he was going to make it.”
The mother-of-two said the I Should Be So Lucky singer had told her she would love a cuddle, and was honoured to be holding the baby – before cooing over his beautiful cheeks.
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