Meet the ex-gamekeeper who gifted Billy Connolly a banjo

By Kenny Smith | November 20, 2019

Euan F Cattanach hails from a long line of retired gamekeepers. Here, though, is one gamekeeper who has a few extra strings to his bow. Working from his shed in Aberfeldy in Perthshire, he is one of a few ‘band of brothers’ making banjos. His workshop recently had no other than Billy Connolly dropping by…

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Bringing a mum closer to her newborn baby

By Kenny Smith | October 7, 2019

The second episode of a new Scottish series bringing the every day events at a maternity hospital will be shown this week. Technology brings a mum together with her premature son in this second episode of Tiny Lives, filmed in the neonatal unit at University Hospital Wishaw. Unable to cuddle nine-weeks-early Blake because she lost…

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Fringe: Lucie Pohl offers a mixed bag of laughs

By Kenny Smith | August 5, 2019

Okay, here’s a few things you should know about stand-up comedian Lucie Pohl. Firstly, she’s a short (5ft 1in) and hyperactively talented German-born New Yorker who dances like no-one’s watching and is inventively potty-mouthed. Despite being pint-sized, this failed former actor (her words) nevertheless exudes the sort of charisma which registers on Geiger counters. She…

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Up Helly Aa is such a hit with its annual visitors

By Kenny Smith | January 28, 2019

Shetland’s annual Viking festival of fire is taking place this week. Up Helly Aa 2019 is being held on Tuesday, 29 January, and will be a huge draw for not just islanders, but visitors too. Rowan Slaney, who is based on London, came up to Up Helly Aa last year and loved her time there.…

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Some handy hints for driving in rain and floods

By Kenny Smith | November 27, 2018

We can’t get away from the fact that the darker nights are here, and the weather has changed for the worst. Gale force winds and rain are set to batter Scotland this weekend as Storm Brian arrives. Road safety and breakdown organisation GEM Motoring Assist is encouraging motorists to ensure they – and their vehicles…

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Today…

By Peter Ranscombe | May 9, 2011

Wednesday April 20th – more fine weather; Papamoa, Twelve Paces & Northern Flame went to Lucinda’s, Minimo & Commercial Express schooled over fences and Playing Footsie schooled over hurdles, the rest worked on the riverbank and all-weather.  Watering continues at all the racetracks but the weather looks settled well into the weekend so care will…

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Do you believe in Scotland’s big cats?

By Peter Ranscombe | September 8, 2009

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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Video of the week

By Peter Ranscombe | August 11, 2009

We hope that you are enjoying our recently added ‘Video of the Week’ page. If you have taken a video of a beautiful part of Scotland or one of a great fishing trip here, or perhaps you have caught some of Scotland’s wildlife on video. If you have and would like your video featured on…

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