Reading with Dogs scheme gets a pet on the back

Bannockburn Primary has been exploring an innovative use of therapets through pilot project Reading with Dogs in a bid to support their pupils’ education and wellbeing. The school has welcomed lovely dogs Dylan and Scruffy, along with their owners Elspeth and Anne-Marie to the school on a weekly basis as part of a successful two-year…

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Butchery at Balgove

Balgove Larder is currently running a range of butchery masterclasses from its steak barn and farm shop near St Andrews. In an effort to keep pace with current food trends for sustainability and provenance, I signed up and found myself driving over the Forth Bridge on a glorious Saturday morning while mentally preparing myself to…

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Glamis Prom announces line up

Glamis Proms have announced the artists taking to the stage for this year’s lavish concert and have promised a spectacular evening of beautiful music featuring The Glamis Prom Orchestra. Casualty and Holby City star Lee Mead (Any Dream Will Do, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Wicked, Legally Blond), Broadway singing sensation Christina Bianco (Me Myself…

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Express yourself

I like my pampering sessions little and often. Well I say that, but if I didn’t have a job, two young children, a dog, a cat and an old house that needs constant maintenance then I would probably prefer them long and often. But, for now, NOW is the answer. NOW by One Spa at…

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Nearly…

Sunday May 8th..So, rain arrives, ground softens and competitive point-to-pointing returns with lots of runners in front of a good crowd at Aspatria deep in the Cumbrian countryside.  We ran two in the Mens’s Open but we were up against it taking on an improving young horse from Cheshire ridden by the man who has ridden more…

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Third time lucky…….

Tuesday April 12th -  Having just been denied in the shadow of the post twice at Hexham this season it was third time lucky for Lucy yesterday when riding 20-1 outsider Thunder Hawk she just got the better of warm favourite Ardnaclancy for owner Robert Miller-Bakewell and trainer Stuart Coltherd; I was absolutely delighted for all…

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More big cats

Since we published our piece on big cats I am amazed at the number of people I know – all sane, sensible citizens – who say that they have had an encounter with one. Chatting to my next door neighbour and friend, he said that once, on a trip up to Ballater to visit friends,…

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Do you believe in Scotland’s big cats?

This month we carry a controversial piece examining the question of whether big cats are really on the prowl in Scotland. At the moment hotspots for sightings seem to be Aberdeen and Ayrshire. In the latter county local police recently warned the public to be on their guard after they concluded an injured horse had…

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