Monthly Archives: October 2017

  1. Pilot Scheme for Low Emissions 2018 – One of the Big Two to Get Charging Scheme

    Pilot Scheme for Low Emissions 2018 –

    One of the Big Two to Get Charging Scheme

    The government have announced that either Glasgow or Edinburgh will be at the centre of a pilot scheme aimed at reducing pollution in our cities. The cities are now as dirty and unhealthy as they have ever been so they tell us. Well I for one can say that since we moved out of the city our health seems to have improved and the sea air is terribly bracing and a lot cleaner than urban air.

    Older Vehicles and Cars Targeted

    If they deem that you drive a highly polluting vehicle then you could be charged to go into the centre of one of Scotland’s cities from next year. The government intend to pilot a Low Emission Zone designed to keep the worst polluting vehicles out of one of Scotland’s city areas. This signifies quite a change from the old ways as London has had one of these LEZs since 2008 and pretty pricey it is too.

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  2. Diverted from Platform 9¾ - Stranded Family Board Hogwarts Express.

    Diverted from Platform 9¾ -

    Stranded Family Board Hogwarts Express.

    A mother and father and their four children and their four young children were staying at a remote bothy in Lochaber when their canoe was swept away by a swollen river leaving them stranded some three miles from their base. So rather than clamber across boggy land, streams and hills the family decided to ask for advice from the local police, who delivered a surprise. You can imagine the look of the faces of the young folk when the steam train used in the Harry Potter films stopped to pick them up. The train, called The Jacobite, is used for excursions on the West Highland Railway Line. If you remember the films you’ll also ken the  iconic Glenfinnan Viaduct  that features so spectacularly in the film stories.

    A Welcome Stop

    The mum and dad plus kids were 6, 8, 10 and 12 were on a half-term break at the Essan bothy, on the south

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  3. Cockapoo Swept Out to Sea – Then Saved by Helicopter

    Cockapoo  Swept Out to Sea –

    Then Saved by Helicopter

    A dog was swept into the sea near Cummingston, between Hopeman and Burghead on the Moray coast. Just as its anxious owners were dreading the worst a coastguard helicopter on a training exercise spotted the dog swimming in the waves. The helicopter crew radioed the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and the Moray inshore lifeboat based at Findhorn was launched.  The copter hovered near the dog until the lifeboat arrived and hauled the cockerpoo on board.

    All Relieved

    The lifeboat crew returned  the cockerpoo to its owners who were waiting on shore with the Burghead Coastguard Rescue Team and everyone was relieved that the dog doesn’t seem to have experienced any long lasting effects from the ordeal, but I reckon the little blighter won’t be heading for the seashore on its own anytime soon.

    No Lifeboat Needed

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  4. Happy Talk – Scotland a Great place to Live, Despite Weather

    Happy Talk –

    Scotland a Great place to Live, Despite Weather

    Those boys who put together the index of happiness have been at it again and the annual report says it is set fair. Admittedly it is done by the Bank of Scotland, but it is at least an indicator of well being and I am all for well being. And if you are living in Mid-Scotland that is, Renfrewshire Clackmannanshire, Perth and Kinross then you are living among the happiest people in the nation. And unsurprisingly those over the age of 65 are amongst the happiest of all

    Happiness is Trending

    The survey was begun in 2015 and it has shown that Scots are generally becoming happier, with the exception of Glasgow where the people are quite a lot less happy than the folks in Mid-Scotland, as are people in the age range 35-44, which I presume is the age we all have to endure with young families and rising expectations. And as a parent myself with a grown up

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  5. Hot News- James Pirie Gets Bronze

    Hot News-

    James Pirie Gets Bronze

    James Pirie is pleased to announce the latest addition to our beautiful ranges with art that will stand the test of time made in traditional bronze, a material that has been used for sculpture for over 4,000 years. It is with great pride we introduce Richard Cooper & Company who work with UK sculptors and designers to create stunning and unique foundry bronze sculptures in limited editions and small runs. They used the lost wax technique of which more later, but the results are truly stunning and a joy forever. Some of these treasures are available now, but others are on the way and you will be thrilled to own or gift one of these amazing and beautiful items.

    Great Works of Art

    Did you know that the great civilisations of the world worked in bronze and some of the greatest art works ever made were cast in this alloy of copper and tin in a process that has

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  6. The Last Piper – Laments No More

    The Last Piper –

    Laments No More

    As most of our readers know I am somewhat enamoured of bagpipe playing and even as I am writing to this I am listening to Flower of Scotland on the pipes, so it is with some sadness I found out about the end of an era in Montreal. 72 years ago a great Canadian department store, Ogilvy’s, is stopping its daily bagpipe performance as the winds of change are blowing away from the chanter. Ogilvy’s Scottish founder has been remembered every day since 1945.  Then owner Aird Nesbitt launched a series of Scottish traditions including tartan shopping bags and store packaging to mark the store’s founder, the redoubtable James Angus Ogilvy.

     An Iconic Shop

     Ogilvy from Kirriemuir emigrated to Canada in the 1860s and founded his iconic store, but in September the piping tradition came to an end. For 72 years it involved a piper playing for about 20 minutes

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