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This has been released by NHS Grampian Archives (formerly known as Northern Health Services Archives):

NHS Grampian Archives have announced new opening hours with effect from Monday 2nd March 2015, following their relocation to the University of Aberdeen’s Special Collections Centre.  The historic collections held by NHS Grampian can now be accessed during the following times:

• Wednesday – Friday, 9.30am – 4.30pm, with late night opening on Thursday until 6.30pm during University term-time*
  *People wishing to use the late night opening must give at least 24 hours advance notice.

• Monday & Tuesday, 9.30am – 4.30pm – by prior appointment only.

Please note that access to some of the records may be restricted under the Data Protection Act (1998), and that some records are held offsite.  It is advised that visitors contact Fiona Musk, NHS Grampian Archivist, by emailing "grampian.archives [AT] nhs.net" or by telephone on 01224 274912 prior to your visit to ensure that records are available.  This is especially recommended if you are travelling from a long distance, or have limited visiting time.  Please note that if the NHS Grampian Archivist is not available during the above opening hours, access to the NHS collections is restricted. 

Further information on the collections, including the online catalogue, can be found at www.abdn.ac.uk/library/about/special/nhs-grampian-archives.

Access to the records is via the Wolfson Reading Room in the University of Aberdeen's Special Collections Centre, which is located in the Sir Duncan Rice Library on Bedford Road, Aberdeen.  In order to visit, photographic ID and proof of address is required in order to register for an access card.  Further details on this, and how to apply in advance before visiting, can be found at www.abdn.ac.uk/library/get-started/visiting-us and you are also advised to read the Wolfson Reading Room guidelines available at www.abdn.ac.uk/library/documents/Wolfson_Reading_Room_Guide.pdf

These opening hours will be reviewed following a trial period.

I'm stuck!  These two entries are from a record of baptisms from St Nicholas in Aberdeen in 1583.  There is one surname in the second entry which I am stuck on, but it also appears in the entry above.  I don't have a better copy, nor can I access them on ScotlandsPeople (no credits, and no funds to get any just now!)

The second entry reads:

The said day John Layng elspaitt
thornton sone in marreage callit
[…] john […]dess patrick hay
elspaitt lumsden witnesses

The entry above has an Elspaitt with the same surname (I'm not interested in the rest of that entry), and I still can't make it out.  It's something dess, but other than that, I'm stumped.  Any ideas? 

A new website has been launched at www.northeastscotlandroots.com.  It has a directory of useful resources in the North East of Scotland who can help with family history research, as well as a list of useful links for further afield.

It was launched on Monday 16th May 2011, and is still being updated but there is a contact form if you want to get in touch with them.  It's a collaborative effort between different organisations from the public, private and voluntary sectors.

Does anybody know which street in Fraserburgh the Commercial Bar was on?  It was destroyed by bombing on 5 February 1941, after a fire in nearby Benzie & Miller's on Mid Street was seen by an enemy bomber.

I am having trouble finding it's exact location however, and wondered if anyone knew either exactly where it was, or what was near it which might help me pin it down.  I thought it might have been on Broad Street but can't find confirmation of this.