The dog whisperer who saves canine lives

Abbie Withers has worked with dogs for 35 years, in film and TV, and now as a behavioural consultant, saving dogs which might otherwise be put to sleep How did you first get started working with dogs? I worked as a vet nurse in the UK and in South Africa and met another nurse who…

Read More

Scots don’t like the idea of driverless cars

Only 19% of people in Scotland feel comfortable with the idea of travelling in a driverless car, the lowest level in the UK, according to a new opinion poll from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. The poll found that 70% of Scots are unhappy with the thought of being an occupant in an autonomous vehicle, with most…

Read More

New documentary features Scottish neonatal unit

A new TV series looking at the work of a Scottish hospital’s neonatal unit is coming to our screens. The work of the dedicated staff at University Hospital Wishaw, North Lanarkshire, comes under the spotlight in this three-part documentary series looking at the neonatal unit and the very sick and premature babies who rely on…

Read More

The rise in Scottish men having aesthetic treatments

I have to confess – I’ve not had a skincare regime for years. In the early 2000s, after reading American Psycho and seeing the film adaptation, I did begin to take a bit more care, with moisturisers and a careful selection of aftershave, but, when the moisturiser eventually ran out, I never replaced it or…

Read More

Behind the scenes on a trio of Scots newspapers

A look into three Scottish newspapers is coming to our screens this week. In The Papers, this new two-part series sees cameras go behind the scenes in the shared newsroom of three Scottish newspapers, one of which is the world’s longest surviving English-language daily title. As journalists face the threat of fresh cuts and redundancies,…

Read More

Historic Days Await as lances clash and shields shatter

Spectators can choose their champion as noble knights face each other in the field this weekend. Spectacular Jousting returns to Caerlaverock Castle, near Dumfries, from 12.30–4.30pm on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 July. The competitors will mount their horses as the tournaments kick off at 1.30pm and 3.15pm in the main arena, where visitors can…

Read More

Conservation at the heart of debut novel

Starting from humble beginnings on a typical gap year and fuelled by his growing passion for marine conservation, we follow Thomas Durant’s fascinating journey from student to marine activist in The Activist. Scottish author Alec Connon’s debut novel tells the tale of Durant’s decade-long involvement in animal rights activism, from his first tentative steps into…

Read More

Toulmin Prize competition reveals commended stories

The Toulmin Prize is open to amateur writers over the age of 16. The stories entered should have a north east focus, and may be written in Doric or English, or a mixture of the two. This week, we’ll be posting one story a day, including the four commended stories and the overall winner of…

Read More

Capital market ‘healthiest’ in more than a decade

Edinburgh’s housing market is experiencing its strongest start to the year for more than a decade, according to Warners Solicitors and Estate Agents. The capital has seen no slowdown of activity so far in 2019, with conditions looking much healthier for both buyers and sellers – with the rising numbers of properties available for sale,…

Read More

10 brave Scots who have won the Victoria Cross

Awarded for valour in the face of the enemy, the Victoria Cross is our highest military decoration. These are the tales of ten of the 164 Scots awarded this highly-prized medal. 1. John MacGregor Born at Cawdor near Nairn in 1889, John MacGregor became Canada’s most-decorated soldier. He emigrated in 1909, working as a carpenter…

Read More