Diary: Red alert as the year’s third big gale rips through Scotland
Blustery hardly covers it – and it’s not really been a day to be up a hill or out for a sail. Like a lot of other people, I’ve largely stayed put, at least since a mid-morning expedition to the wilds...
View ArticleWeir’s Week: Diving, snooker-lite and another de Oliveira departs
By Stewart Weir Saturday The BBC’s A Question of Sport has been going a while. By chance, I came across it on BBC Northern Ireland on Saturday afternoon. It’s a show I’ve had an association with one...
View ArticleOops, where did that go? Sensitive equipment lost by civil servants
At least one BlackBerry smartphone packed with sensitive information is lost every two weeks by Scottish civil servants, according to new figures. A total of 44 Scottish government BlackBerrys – many...
View ArticleFriday song: Hurricane Bawbag
The Sensational Alex Salmond Band have produced another topical video by way of accompaniment to their new EP, Hackgate. Written and performed by Mr Meteorology, Tommy Mackay, and performed with gusto,...
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No need for ‘devo max’ in SNP’s moderate independence plans
SNP strategists believe there will be no need for a “devo max” option in the referendum if they can make independence appear as reasonable as possible. Senior SNP figures have revealed that their...
View ArticleOpinion: There’s more to life than gross domestic product
Martin Sime is director of the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, and writes a monthly column for The Caledonian Mercury. For too long, policymakers have viewed gross domestic product (GDP)...
View ArticleUseful Scots word: dwaibly
By Betty Kirkpatrick Around this time of year many of us are feeling a bit dwaibly. There are various reasons for this. We might be suffering from the effects of the common cold or even flu (and in...
View ArticleVideo: Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce chief exec stands down
The chief executive of Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, Ron Hewitt, is leaving after six years in the job. His time in office has been something of a roller-coaster of a ride. The economy was booming...
View ArticleSquirrel underpants, exploding puddings: some festive gifts and risks
By Charlie Laidlaw Amid the jollity this Christmas, be very, very careful. It’s a big, bad world out there, and it’s no coincidence that Santa is an anagram of Satan. So, here are a few of my tips on...
View ArticleVideo: Edinburgh trams control centre handed over to council
A year ago, it seemed possible that the Edinburgh trams project could end in tears. Almost everyone involved with the construction of the network was at loggerheads with each other. For most of last...
View ArticleOpinion: How to live with – and harness – these strong winds
By John Knox As I write, the wind is rattling my windows and puffing down the chimney as if it will blow my house down. But like the little pigs in the nursery rhyme, we have had to get used to high...
View ArticleWidespread concern as Scottish jobless figure hits 8.5 per cent
The latest unemployment figures from the Office for National Statistics show that there were 229,000 Scots looking for work in the three months from August to October, up by 25,000 on the previous...
View ArticleThe BMJ goes to Borsetshire – a health check for The Archers
For a certain group of people – a community, if you will – this time last year was one of anxious anticipation. No, not Christmas, nor even Hogmanay: rather it was 2 January and it was to take place on...
View ArticleFriday song: Bladder Mind Off
The Sensational Alex Salmond Band have produced another topical video by way of accompaniment to their new EP, Hackgate. Written and performed by Tommy Mackay, and addressing the amazing urological...
View ArticleWeir’s Week: No Khan do and the folly of fair-weather football
By Stewart Weir Saturday Nothing much wrong with your Saturday evening sport this week. If you didn’t fancy a bit of the "gas cooker" (work it out yourself) from the UK "Lite" Championship, then there...
View ArticleScottish rugby on a high – let’s hope it continues
There has never been a season like it: after eight games in the Heineken Cup, Scotland’s teams have won five, drawn one and lost only two. These are matches against Europe’s elite, clubs with several...
View ArticleDemocracy of sorts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
By Andrew Macdonell in South Africa On Tuesday 20 December 2011, Joseph Kabila is scheduled to take the oath for a second full term as president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The huge...
View ArticleVideo: Gordon Motion, master blender
It's been quite an exciting time for the Famous Grouse. "Gilbert" – the star of the annual adverts on television – is now part of the Famous Family. First came Black Grouse, then Naked Grouse and...
View ArticleMalawi in crisis – troubled times for Scotland’s twin country in Africa
By John Knox MPs on the International Development Committee at Westminster have said Malawi – Scotland’s twin country in Africa – “has entered a political and economic crisis”. They have begun an...
View ArticleEight Scottish festive scenes and a Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas (or Chanukah or winter solstice or whatever festivities your faith celebrates in the winter months) from all of us at The Caledonian Mercury. Our hard-working team will be taking a...
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