Brash McKelvie – We all just want to complain

Scottish Field’s online columnist Brash McKelvie on the moans and groans of every day life . Here are the cast of characters that share the vicissitudes of life: Scragend – a Rhode Island Red of indeterminate age and foul nature. Shitting Cat – does exactly what it says on the tin. The Beloved – a…

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Brash McKelvie – The lost treasures of the woodshed

Scottish Field’s online columnist Brash McKelvie found some old friends during a look in the woodshed. Here are the cast of characters that share the vicissitudes of life: Scragend – a Rhode Island Red of indeterminate age and foul nature. Shitting Cat – does exactly what it says on the tin. The Beloved – a…

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Spending a season with the wild geese

It is impossible not to be charmed by the poignant and lyrical way in which Wintering effortlessly sketches vivid portraits of these often underappreciated birds. The reader is invited to share in the solace which Stephen Rutt finds in nature through the book’s elegant and very readable prose, which although soothing, never loses its poetic…

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Brash McKelvie – Don’t forget that we’re all incomers

Scottish Field’s online columnist Brash McKelvie can be the incredible sulk. Here are the cast of characters that share the vicissitudes of life: Scragend – a Rhode Island Red of indeterminate age and foul nature. Shitting Cat – does exactly what it says on the tin. The Beloved – a paragon of virtue and a…

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A collection of a Gaelic family’s works of poetry

The Glendale Bairds is an epic collection which brings to life the celebrated works and biography of Gaelic poet Niall Macleòid, as well as the unsung poetry of Macleòid’s brother, Iain Dubh, and their father, Dòmhnall Nan Òran. Together, the Macleòids tackle a plethora of themes, from the bare rudiments of human existence – love,…

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Scotland’s Islands beautifully captured in print

Scotland’s incredible natural beauty is captured perfectly in the lavish Scotland’s Islands, which is so beautifully presented to the reader. The photography of island enthusiast Allan Wright is stunning and shows off places we may have visited, and indeed many places that most of us won’t have seen, capturing the soul of each area and…

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An entertaining read to put spring in your step

The Nature of Spring, by Jim Crumley, one of Scotland’s foremost wildlife writers, sees him continue his seasonal writing series with the addition of spring. This thought-inducing paean to nature brings the issues of the natural world to the forefront, reminding us of global warming and the threat it brings to Scottish species such as…

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Meet Sheila Fleet – with a discount in jewellery store

Scottish jewellery designer Sheila Fleet will be holding a Meet the Designer event at the end of this month. Known for her work in precious metals and gemstones, Sheila will be showing her latest creative designs at her boutique shop in Edinburgh’s historic Stockbridge. Sheila draws her inspiration from nature and her island environment. On…

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A fascinating history of Scotland’s pubs

Having visited Scotland, Samuel Johnson, James Boswell, Dorothy Wordsworth and Robert Southey all wrote accounts of their experiences in its taverns, inns, public houses and ale houses, which form a large part of Scotland’s history and character. A History of Drinking: The Scottish Pub since 1700 examines continuity and change in the functions of Scottish…

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Scottish fable given new life in the 21st century

Originally a Scottish fable written in 1440 by Richard Holland, The Book of the Howlat is re-imagining of one of the poetic gems of medieval Scotland. It tells the moral story of being true to one’s own nature. Similar to the Ugly Duckling tale, this children’s book introduces the Howlat, a body-conscious young owl who…

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