Page 54 - James Pirie News

Orkney Bogged Down in Smallest room

In Loo of Payment

It seems that Scandinavians are stranger creatures than we may have previously thought as a local former public loo goes on sale in Orkney. The toilet is a snug 28 ft by 9ft and loiters near the home of the late great George Mackay Brown in Stromness,  a town name of course which is pure Scandinavian in itself.  The loo is being sold by the...

Dogs Are Smarter Than We Think

Dog IQ Test Now In

A team based in the capital have revealed new tests that measure your pooches IQ.  Scientists at Edinburgh University have been testing Border Collies and we can now tell how clever these amazing animals are. The tests will help us understand the link between health and intelligence. As we move to a more sedentary lifestyle and exercise less it is...

Baby Time in the Murray Household

It’s a Girl!

Well the wait is over and a little while ago Andy and Kim, or rather Kim and Andy had a baby girl, weighing in at 8lb 10oz, not sure what that is in kilos! After he lost to Novak in Melbourne Andy was on the plane two hours later to see his wife and now a bonny baby. Kim and Andy married in his home town of Dunblane last August and all seems to be well...

Flying Scotsman Flies Again

First Ton up Locomotive

As I write this the world famous Flying Scotsman is travelling on the West Coast Main Line after a ten year restoration programme that has cost £4.2m.  It is a mighty sight I am sure. The loco was designed by Sir Nigel Gresley, and dubbed the Flying Scotsman on 24 February 1923. But it wasn’t until the following year with the British Empire Exhibition...

24 Hour Opening Ceases at Major Supermarket

24 Hour Opening Still the Order of the Day at J P

In a week that saw the ending of supermarket giant Tesco’s 24 a day opening across the UK, including 4 stores in Scotland and an Aberdeen man escaping prison for trying to evade police officers on a stolen mobility scooter at 5 miles an hour it seems a good time to reassure our readers that the James Pirie...

Don’t Give Anything That Is Dead This Valentine’s Day

Red Roses Darling – Very Nice- They’ll Wilt Shortly

Did you know that in the UK we will give fifty million roses this Valentine’s Day and that for that one day the price will nearly double, even if you order early and by the way the delivery driver has  bent the box! Roses were first given by the Victorians as a symbol of love and a nod to the...

Scotland’s Einstein!

James Clerk Maxwell

I am really excited to watch the BBC programme on J C M as he was such a remarkable Scot. Without him we might not have colour photography, X Rays or have a proper understanding of the interlinked nature of magnetism and electricity with the ability to send electromagnetic waves and make radio.

Running Rings around Saturn

He also explained the rings of the giant...

The Spirit of Scotland

Celebrate, Taste and Enjoy

As you might recall I wrote about the exciting year with loads of events in 2016 as the Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design kicks in. Well one of the most exciting events is going to be a whisky festival in Speyside which will warm the coldest cockles on a freezing day.

 Called the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival celebrates the area which...

Gin Is It – Shaken and Stirred

The Fashion Drink of the 21^st Century

For some the classic gin Martini is "the only American invention as perfect as the sonnet” others call it "the elixir of quietude," but whatever your feelings about the lyricism of language about gin, you have to admit it is the drink of the moment. And it is the pride of Scotland. The nation has its own club for gin drinkers called...

If You Want a Better Life - Live in Scotland - Except for the Weather!

New Proof in Earnings Leaves London Lagging Behind

 Now if you have older kids who dream when they might get on the properly ladder you might spare a micro second of thought for the unfortunates living in the south of England. The typical disposable income of those in work in Scotland is higher than the southerners have, due to...