#TryJanuary: If you like that, try this…

Looking for inspiration to kick start your #TryJanuary? Peter Ranscombe is on hand with some suggestions. If you like… Albarino Try… its fizzy friend As we saw during lockdown, the pandemic hasn’t got in the way of Mar de Frades continuing to produce seafood-friendly albarino. Winemaker Paula Fandino has also been busy perfecting her sparkling…

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12 Wines of Christmas: Chile

Day nine of his “12 Wines of Christmas” series sees Peter Ranscombe taking a look at carmenere from Chile. DIVING into a tin of Christmas chocolates can be a bit like a playing lucky dip at the showies – you’re never quite sure what you’re going to get. Back in 1994, Chilean farmers were faced…

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Easy festive styling tips from an expert

You don’t have to be a design guru to make your home feel special this Christmas writes Kate Henderson, owner of Henderson’s Garden & Home Store in Melrose. PEOPLE worry they are not creative enough or might get something wrong when it comes to trying out new ideas at Christmas. But if you use what…

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Skyran Candle Company launches Christmas collection

At Skyran Candle Company, we are dedicated to quality home fragrance products, which are kind to our bodies and to our planet. We use natural wax and the finest fragrance oil in all our products to create a truly luxurious experience. As a husband-and-wife team, we launched our business in the spring while staying in…

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Awards nod for Perth’s recycled metal fish

A FISH sculpture created by a Glenalmond-based artist using an old cattle feeder and other scrap metal has been shortlisted for a national award. Local farmer Willie Simpson donated the aged cattle ringfeeder that formed the base of the sculpture, which has been shortlisted at the 2020 Gaga Galvanising Construction Industry Awards. Artist Sarah-Louise Wilson…

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Having a ceilidh with Yalumba’s ‘Caley’

Peter Ranscombe rediscovers ‘the Great Australian Red’ – and suggests some affordable stepping stones along the way. THE world of wine is full of odd phrases: multiple glasses are served in “wine flights”, a liquid that hangs to the side of the glass is said to have “long legs”, and smells can sometimes – kindly…

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Mains of Taymouth puts luxury timber lodges on sale

MAINS of Taymouth, the five-star country estate and golf course at Kenmore in Perthshire, has begun marketing phase two of Balloch Park, its residential, holiday and buy-to-let development. Twenty luxury timber lodges have gone on sale, with prices starting at £179,900. The lodges are flanked by Drummond Hill on one side and the River Tay…

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Children’s wildlife drawing contest launched

GARDEN BirdWatch is marking its 25th anniversary with a drawing competition for children aged five to 11. The British Trust for Ornithology’s (BTO’s) summer project includes watching, counting, drawing and writing. The results from each year’s Garden BirdWatch are used by the BTO’s scientists to understand how British birds are faring and how gardens can…

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Organic distillery fills ‘Hope lies in dreams’ casks

A DISTILLERY on the Morvern peninsula is marking 2020 by launching 60 limited edition casks. Nc’nean, named after the Gaelic queen of the spirits, will stencil each of the barrels with the phrase “Hope lies in dreams” to mark the coronavirus pandemic and its impact. The casks will be filled with spirit distilled this year.…

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Aboyne Highland Games stages online piping contest

THREE of the piping competitions held by Aboyne Highland Games will shift online this summer. The open competitions for the piobaireachd, march, and strathspey and reel categories will be held virtually on 1 August. Two-thirds of the 32 competitors come from the UK, with the remainder from North America. Recordings of their performances will be…

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