An art-tea afternoon with Van Gogh and The Caledonian Hotel

It’s the most talked-about event in the capital for quite some time, so a visit to Van Gogh Alive was a must for a girlie afternoon in town. When I discovered that The Waldorf Astoria – The Caledonian was celebrating its partnership with the event with a special Van Gogh Themed afternoon tea, our plans…

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A northern adventure in Shetland and Orkney

I’ve always thought about Shetland as very far from Scotland, and in many ways it is. And despite its closer geographical proximity to the mainland, I feel that Orkney also seems to have its heritage rooted more in Nordic culture than in Scots. But despite the distance travelled, my first visit to the islands that…

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The Heretic is a gripping read from start to end

The prequel to The Heretic, Liam McIlvanney’s The Quaker, earned him ‘The Scottish Crime Book of the Year’ prize. I’ve little doubt this will do just as well. It has all the ingredients for a classic piece of crime fiction: a dark, gritty plot, authentic characters and an unpredictable ending. Set in Scotland’s Dear Green…

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Delight as novel wins New Zealand Booklovers Award

A Scots-based writer’s first historical thriller has won the New Zealand Booklovers Award for Best Adult Fiction Book 2022. Written by Kiwi-born David Bishop, who has lived in Biggar, South Lanarkshire, for more than 20 years, City of Vengeance took the prize at the awards, which were announced last week. Writing as D.V. Bishop, the…

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The Clanlands Almanac is a celebration of Scotland

Outlander fans can breathe a sigh of relief. That’s right, actors Heughan and McTavish have gifted their devoted fan base another cornucopia of all things Alba, including a compendium of historical trivia and a cask full of whisky-soaked japes. An ode to their homeland, her history and her people, Heughan dubbed this ‘an odyssey through…

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Eddi Reader announces new album of unreleased songs

Light Is In The Horizon Yet is the moving first single from Scottish songstress Eddi Reader’s new album of unreleased songs entitled Light Is In The Horizon. The single will be released on Friday 1 April exclusively at Bandcamp, with a full release to follow later in the year. The song is one of a…

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Teacher’s book puts women’s football history into play

Strathallan School teacher Paul Beeson has become a published playwright this month as his play Sweet F.A. hits the shelves. Published by Tippermuir Books on International Women’s Day, the play-turned-book follows the story of a factory football team from Fountainbridge fighting for their right to play the game. Paul Beeson, an English and drama teacher…

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Glad Rags & Cartridge Bags visit Glamis Castle

The ladies of Glad Rags & Cartridge Bags enjoy their inaugural event at historic Glamis Castle while raising funds for Children 1st. As the day dawned, 40 ladies from all over Scotland and as far afield as Cheshire were treated to what must be one of the most spectacular views in Scotland, the private drive…

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The climbing ambitions of Hamish MacInnes

Few names are as synonymous with the British climbing scene as that of MacInnes. A trailblazing Scot from Gatehouse of Fleet known as ‘The Fox of Glencoe’, he took on solo yomps up The Matterhorn, attempted to scale Everest four times, survived an avalanche, invented lifesaving climbing equipment including an all-metal ice axe and a…

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