Hemingway’s offers a veritable moveable feast

Concept dining is a growing market in the industry, with everyone trying to find that unique angle that others haven’t. The idea of small plates, popularised by the Spanish through tapas, has been on the rise in recent times, and for good reason – why have one large main course, when you can have a…

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Enjoy Christmas with the queen of romantic comedies

The festive season is on the way, and that can only mean one thing – there’s a Jenny Colgan book on the way. Scotland’s queen of the romantic comedy, originally from Prestwick in Ayrshire, is back with An Island Christmas, which is published on 31 October in paperback. The beautiful island of Mure takes centre…

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Marking 160 years of an important landmark

The 160th anniversary of the Katrine Aqueduct, one of Scotland’s most important pieces of infrastructure, was marked this week with a special re-enactment of its official inauguration by Queen Victoria. Actors donned Victorian attire and a modern-day lookalike ‘Queen Victoria’ followed in the footsteps of the monarch and repeated her words close to the very…

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Marking 40 years since closure of Mackintosh school

Forty years after the Charles Rennie Mackintosh designed Scotland Street School closed, organisers hope to attract a record number of former pupils to the annual reunion. This year’s event takes place from noon–3pm this Saturday, 19 October. Last year’s reunion, which took place in the 150th anniversary year of Mackintosh’s birth, attracted over 60 people…

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Short stories and varied lives in The Way Out

The Way Out is a compilation of short stories depicting the dilemmas, desires and disappointments of men and women, young and old. Vicki Jarrett explores these people’s lives and their trials and tribulations in relationships, the economy and society. The Way Out is an impressive assemblage of heart-warming yet chilling cases, brimming with stark truths…

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Sir Jackie Stewart shares his thoughts on life

Scotland’s triple F1 world champion Sir Jackie Stewart talks about overcoming dyslexia, cleaning windows and being beaten on the virtual circuit by his grandchildren. Dyslexia was not recognised at my school. In those days there was no help for children with disabilities. I was called thick, stupid and dumb in front of the class. I…

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Her life was ruined by a blood transfusion

This is the truly tragic tale of how one woman’s life has been affected by one of the UK’s biggest medical scandals –blood transfusion contamination. Gill Fyffe received the transfusion after undergoing a traumatic birth. Several unexplained side-effects followed and seven years later she was diagnosed with Hepatitis C. Now in seriously deteriorating health and…

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An outsider’s look at Scotland’s capital

Chiang Yee offers an insightful and refreshing view on the capital in The Silent Traveller in Edinburgh. Refusing to let the unpredictable Scottish weather hinder his expeditions, Chiang Yee always finds beauty in the dreariest of rainstorms. He employs the technique of defamiliarisation, opening his readers’ eyes to alternative perspectives of the city through astute…

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The ideal book for the fisherman in your life

Reflections on the Loch is a wonderful hardback book, to warm the heart of any trout angler, and a perfect Christmas present. The widely-travelled Orcadian writes with passion, knowledge and experience, and is highly informative yet never dull. Not afraid to tackle issues, he is also very specific, giving tips on how to fish specific…

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John Hunter left a body of work behind him

Self-taught John Hunter was the most famous surgeon of his age – but the man who was the inspiration for Jekyll and Hyde had no qualms about acquiring stolen corpses on which to perfect his skills. Everyone knows the story of Jekyll and Hyde. But few realise that the setting for the gothic tale of…

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