Scotland
StAnza festival of poetry returns today
StAnza, Scotland’s International Poetry Festival is set for another outstanding year. It’s preparing to open its annual festival, Stories like Starting Points, as part of Scotland’s Year of Stories 2022. The festival, now in its 25th year has a programme featuring over 150 poets and performers who will deliver around 120 events, dozens of which…
Read MoreThe sad real-life story of the ‘Victorian Titanic’
Gill Hoffs’ enthusiasm for the subject of The Sinking of the RMS Tayleur and extensive research makes for an absolutely fascinating read . It’s a piece of work scattered with inserts from historical reports and newspaper articles. The book starts by painting a picture of the social and economic problems in 19th century Ireland with…
Read MoreClay pigeon shoot will be a (double) barrel of fun
The Borders Branch of SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity is organising a clay shoot next month. This will take place on Sunday, April 10, at Bisley at Braidwood near Selkirk in the Scottish Borders – and those interested can register a team of four to take part at the six-stand, 60-clay flush shoot. Bisley at…
Read MoreDaunderlust – a book sharing the untold Scots stories
Daunderlust is a beautifully eclectic and eccentric collection of stories about a side of Scotland that is rarely seen by the average visitor (or by many who have lived in the country all their lives). And they certainly has never been mentioned in VisitScotland’s ongoing campaign to promote Scottish culture and encourage tourism. But, like…
Read MoreA well-researched look at who the Picts were
The first time I heard about the Picts, the ancient people of the North of Scotland, I was hooked. My dad told me all about them during a trip to visit family in Aberdeen, and my imagination went into overtime, imagining who they were, and where they lived compared to where I was visiting. The…
Read MoreMeet the busy wee bees at a Scottish school
Outdoor learning is central to the ethos at St Leonards School in St Andrews, with beekeeping, bushcraft, and Beach School amongst the core elements embedded in the International Baccalaureate curriculum and co-curriculum. From cooking ‘wee bannocks’ over the fire pit in the outdoor classroom – to bring Year 1’s study of the traditional Scottish retelling…
Read MoreTake a magical trip to the world of Narnia
There’s always been something magical about The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. C S Lewis’s novel from 1950 spearheaded The Chronicles of Narnia series, introducing us to the magical land, and creatures which have become touchstone points in popular culture, in Aslan and Mr Tumnus, as well as the White Witch. Currently on tour,…
Read MoreIt’s definitely worth trying to grab hold of Letting Go
Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing, according to the old song (and film). And it most definitely is in Letting Go: A Timeline of Tales, by Gerda Stevenson. The Twelve Stories in Letting Go take us on a journey through landscape, language and turbulent times, from the mid-19th century to the present day, and into the…
Read MoreThe country’s favourite pancake toppings revealed
Shrove Tuesday here – and we hope you’ve got your batter, frying pan and amateur pancake flipping skills at the ready – but most importantly, the toppings. Whether you like your pancakes smothered in Nutella, or you prefer the classic Lemon and Sugar, deciding can be a ‘toss up’ with so many toppings to choose…
Read MoreJustin recognised as a Master of Wine
An Edinburgh man has been crowned as a new Master of Wine. The news was announced by the Institute of Masters of Wine, as he is one of two new members of the IMW. Justin Martindale is based in Scotland and Jonny Orton is south of the border. There are now 420 MWs globally –…
Read More