Page 17 - James Pirie News

It’s a whole decade since the wonderful Kelpies sculptures were unveiled in Helix Park between Falkirk and Grangemouth. Happy anniversary Kelpies! They stand at 100ft tall and weigh in at a Champion the Wonder Horse 100 metric tonnes each. They are modelled on the lovely Clydesdale horses  Baron and Duke owned by Glasgow City Council. The much loved Baron died in 2017 at the age of 19 who gave much...

Thinking about the Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio brings to mind him holding the arms of Kate Windswept in Titanic and non disclosure agreements, NDAs, for his girlfriend who all seem to be of a pretty young age for the soon to be 50 actor. But when it comes to nature the Hollywood star of Killers of the Flower Moon is very much in favour of the wild side as we saw in The Wolf of Wall Street. ...

When I read the headline “Scotland Bans Wood Burning Stoves,” my heart sank as we coast dwellers with not so many neighbours are very much in love with our German made log burner. We aren’t off grid, but it’s only by the skin of our teeth. Now rural communities, islanders and those who are actually off grid are worried that the new ban on wood burners in new and renovated houses will adversely affect...

The 1 Per Cent Club and James Pirie? Really?

 The missus and me like a game show now and then, but it takes a strong concept to get us really interested. Pointless was fun for a while and we’ve always liked being completely baffled by  Victoria Corin-Mitchell’s  Only Connect , although I’m always rather more puzzled by her strange monologue at the beginning of the show.  However, talented...

Spring Has Sprung the Sap Has Ris

I wonder where the birdies is?

That’s the late great Ogden Nash who didn’t have to live through Storm Kathleen which yesterday whipped away a lot of our beach and as I sit here typing  it is lashing the house with high winds and waves in April. It’s the price we have to pay for living in these latitudes I suppose, but there is good news out there. Do you remember...

It’s an atmospheric start to the day. A lone piper stood on the rocks on the beach and played laments and stirring marching tunes, the skirls of his  bagpipes mixing with the sound of crashing waves and seagulls. Magic! And some magic has also been sprinkled on the city of Perth with the return of the historic Stone of Destiny, also known as the Stone of Scone, back to its home after so many years...

One of Sir Andy Murray’s favourite sporting places is definitely not one of mine.  It’s Florida and I have to admit I never enjoyed going there. Admittedly I’ve only ever been to the Everglades State to work. I filmed shows about the now old rockers, Creed and Limp Bizkit,if you want to know.  But Sir Braveheart himself loves it there and he almost made the fourth round at the Miami Open.  The...

Scotland is a wondrous and strange place. I’ve just watched a video of wild pigs and wild boar mixes roaming the Great Glen in the Highlands. They are pretty frightening. There are herds of feral pigs roaming the area and out of control. They have been blamed for sheep killings and as they feed much more heavily than other beasts, they are ruining the grazing for other animals. There are calls for...

Flower of Scotland

O flower of Scotland
When will we see
Your like again,

In a salute to the brave Scots who defeated the Norse invaders  the thistle that was adopted as the national flower and symbol of Scotland and now we bring you a brilliant offer the Thistle design single Flower of Scotland - Gin and Tonic Copa Glass with a great 60% off offer. It comes in a lovely gold blocked gift box and...

It’s becoming harder and harder to distinguish fakes from the authentic and with the news that a web site will allow you to create songs in the style of, say Amy Winehouse and Artificial Intelligence that is able to make incredible pictures from fresh air and not a lot else, it’s hard to know what’s real. There was a detectorist in Herefordshire who planted five Crusader coins in a field that would...