58th Parallel

Golf in the Sunshine at Royal Dornoch

2011-07-31T07:10:00.002+01:00

It doesn't get any better than this.

Carnegie Shield at Royal Dornoch

2011-07-30T18:47:00.003+01:00

Next weekend sees the start of the Carnegie Shield at Royal Dornoch Golf Club. The club offers a number of open competitions, for other clubs in the area and for holidaying golfers, but the Carnegie Shield is the biggest of the lot.

Qualifying takes place on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in 36 holes of stroke play. The lowest score for the two rounds is recognised with the award of the Silver Medal. Higher handicap players qualify on Sunday and Monday, with the more accomplished golfers competing on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The main competition is a scratch matchplay tournament.
On Thursday morning 32 players with the lowest scratch scores in qualifying compete in 16 matches for the right to progress to the next rounds. Friday morning the 16 is reduced to 8 and in the afternoon that 8 goes down to 4. Saturday morning sees two matches, with the winners competing in the final match in the afternoon.

This series of videos records the competition in 2010 and shows the opening day, the first hole of the final match, and the prize giving.

For the first time in quite a while, this years final was played out between two local heroes – Christopher “Chippy” Mailey and Alexander Macdonald. Mailey was the defending champion, and Macdonald had triumphed over 3 time winner Biggadike in their semi-final.

Both have been amongst the best players in the club for the last 10 years, or more so this contest was expected to be a real showdown, with the scratch players trading birdies.

In the event Mailey’s game deserted him and Macdonald ran out comfortably winning at 6 up with 5 to play.

The video shows how they played the first hole in glorious sunshine and followed by an expectant crowd.

Mailey pushed his drive to the right while Macdonald smoothed an iron into perfect position in the center of the fairway.

First with the approach, Macdonald eased a wedge into the heart of the green, about 12 feet short of the hole.

Mailey’s shot was much more difficult, coming out of thick rough, across an approach foreshortened by the large bunker and over the smaller trap guarding the green. His pitch landed nicely in the middle of the green, but ran on, slipping off the side. The next approach with the putter was close enough to ensure a 4.

But Macdonald made that putt un-necessary, stroking in his birdie. And he must have continued in the same vein.

Both weather and golf course were in the finest of conditions but the golfing gods deserted defending champion Mailey and Macdonald ran out the comfortable winner.

In his valedictory speech Macdonald graciously, in the true spirit of golf, acknowledged the misfortune suffered by Mailey and the generosity of 3 time winner Biggadike who he’d conquered on the last hole in the semi final earlier in the day.

Walk on Dornoch Beach in the Highlands

2011-07-29T15:31:00.005+01:00

Walk on Dornoch Beach in the Highlands:

"A walk on the beach in the morning is a great start to any day, especially when the beach is at Dornoch in the Highlands, and especially when the weather is as kind as it was this morning.

By the kids playground there were 4 RVs – caravans with a driver on the front. They’d obviously parked there (illegally) overnight and were in the process of getting the day started. Two were from Germany, one from France and the other from England. They’d all come a long way.

From there the beach is less than 50 yards away so a wander and paddle is the natural thing to do. Build up the appetite for Scottish breakfast

The video shows a visiting family having the entire beach to themselves – miles of glorious soft sand and rock pools when the tide’s out. With the hills in the background and that huge sky this place has to be as close to Paradise as we can get."

John o' Groats named Scotland's ugliest - UPI.com

2011-07-29T15:09:00.002+01:00

EDINBURGH, Scotland, Sept. 10 (UPI) -- John o' Groats, on northern mainland Britain, is to receive the Carbuncle Prize as the ugliest village in Scotland, Urban Realm magazine announced.
The village of about 300 people will be honored with the award, also known as "Plook on the Plinth," The Scotsman reported. It finished ahead of a number of other beauty spots, including Inverness, Lochgelly and East Kilbride.

"Home to Britain's most northerly derelict building, this windswept outpost was marked down by our judges for its reliance upon tourist tat and its over-commercialization, evidenced most prominently by the famous John o' Groats signpost," Urban Realm said in its announcement Thursday.
The sign should point to New York, the North Pole and other notable places. But the magazine said tourists who want to get a picture must pay more than $25 to get the directional signs put in place.
Local residents said they hope that a scheme to renovate the remains of the John o' Groats Hotel into a visitors' center and tourist apartments will add to the village's attractiveness.

via upi.com

BBC News - Scots 'tend to blame Labour' for cuts

2011-07-29T15:08:00.006+01:00

By Brian Taylor Political editor, BBC Scotland

Nearly three-quarters of people surveyed preferred spending cuts to raising taxes
Scots tend to blame the former UK Labour government for forthcoming spending cuts, according to a survey for BBC Scotland.
Nearly 75% of the 1,000 respondents favoured cutting spending rather than increasing taxes to plug the deficit.

But the poll also suggests they would like the programme of cuts to proceed more slowly, a policy which has been advanced by Labour and the SNP.
The poll comes as the chancellor prepares to reveal his spending plans.
After the details are announced next week, Scotland's Finance Secretary John Swinney will calculate the impact upon Holyrood spending and announce his detailed proposals.

For the poll, Ipsos MORI interviewed 1,000 people in Scotland from 17-22 September. As with all such polls, there is a margin of error of +/- 3%.
On the issue of responsibility, the poll deliberately focused upon potential political consequences - excluding, for example, the option of blaming the banks.
Asked who was most responsible for upcoming cuts, 42% chose the former UK Labour government while 39% named the present UK coalition government.
A further 13% pinned the blame on the SNP Scottish government.

Continue reading the main story

Those proportions, of course, might change once the cuts are actually announced and, more importantly, start to bite.
In general, 74% favoured a focus upon cutting spending rather than increasing taxes.
But it would seem that there is caution too. It appears from the survey that a big majority would prefer to cut spending more slowly.
Respondents were presented with two broad options. One was to "cut spending quickly even if it means immediate job losses because it will be better for the economy in the long-run". That latter point has been repeatedly emphasised by Chancellor George Osborne.
The second option was to "cut spending more slowly, to reduce the impact on public services and the economy". That is, broadly, the case advanced by Labour and the SNP.
Asked to choose, 81% plumped for slower cuts while 19% thought it was important to cut spending quickly.

The chancellor remains adamant that it is vital to maintain the pace on public spending cuts in order to reassure international markets.
But this finding, if replicated in other polls, may underline the wider debate about the timing, scope and presentation of the cuts.
People gave a range of responses to the question of whether the Scottish government should use Holyrood's tax-raising powers to minimise the impact of spending cuts in Scotland.
Most tended to agree - but those with strong opinions either way were in the minority. No major party at Holyrood is currently offering to use the parliament's tax-varying powers.

via bbc.co.uk

Dolphin watching worth £4m to Scotland - Scotsman.com News

2011-07-29T15:08:00.005+01:00

By Frank Urquhart
THE Moray Firth's world famous population of bottlenose dolphins are worth £4 million a year to Scotland's tourism economy, a new report has revealed.
The firth is home to the world's most northerly dolphin population - an estimated 130 bottlenose dolphins known locally as "loupers" or "tumblers".

And a report, commissioned by the Moray Firth Partnership, has shown that their presence in the firth is worth at least £4m to the local economy and supports more than 200 jobs in the sector through the overnight trips undertaken by tourists to see the dolphins.
Dolphin watching was a significant reason for 52,200 overnight visitors travelling to the East coast of Scotland, and 17,100 of these visitors considered seeing dolphins to be the main reason for their trip.
The findings were welcomed by Marion Macmillan, the chair of the partnership. She said: "We always knew that the dolphins were a great tourist attraction, but I don't think we realised just how important they were for a lot of tourists and that people often come specially to the area to see the dolphins and bring their spending money with them."
Ms Macmillan said it was important for the future of the tourism industry on the East coast of Scotland that the potential of dolphin watching in the Moray Firth was developed still further.
But she stressed: "At the same time is has to be sustainable. We must not put the dolphins under pressure.
"It is not a case of saying let's go for it - let's have as many boats out there as possible chasing dolphins. We absolutely can't do that. The dolphin operators are very responsible and they wouldn't want to do that but we have to find a way of developing this kind of tourism without putting these beautiful animals under pressure."
Ms Macmillan said the best way forward would be to develop land-based facilities for dolphin watching.
"I think we are unique in Europe in having such a fantastic way of seeing the dolphins without having to go out to sea," she said. "And I know that Highland Council, for example, are anxious to take that forward."
Richard Lochhead, the Moray MSP and Scotland's Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, also welcomed the findings.
He said: "Dolphins are much loved inhabitants of Scotland's eastern waters and it is little wonder that many thousands of people plan especially to see them. But beyond their charm, they are also a very visible symbol of a healthy and sustainable marine environment."
Mr Lochhead added: "The Marine Scotland Act has been created to protect our wild species - like dolphins - while we also ensure that Scotland continues to benefit from the riches contained within our waters.MPUMinCharsCutOff:210 PageLength:2566
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via news.scotsman.com

Is Scotland the next big adventure travel destination? | Gadling.com

2011-07-29T15:07:00.002+01:00

by Kraig Becker (RSS feed) on Oct 25th 2010 at 8:30AM
It's no secret that the adventure travel market is booming. It is estimated that that segment of the travel industry generated $89 billion in revenue in 2009 alone, and 2010 is expected to be another banner year. One destination that is helping to contribute to that massive revenue is Scotland, a country that already garners more than $1.4 billion in adventure travel per year, and yet analysts are forecasting an increase in the number of visitors to the country of more than 70% over the next three years.

More than 3.2 million adventure trips were booked to Scotland in 2008 and with the predicted increase for the years ahead, travel companies are already ramping up to help meet the demand. New options for hiking, cycling, and paddling in Scotland are in the works, offering plenty of active adventures for travelers looking to explore the country's varied landscapes.
The most popular draw for adventure travelers is undoubtedly a multi-day hike through the famed Scottish Highlands. Those treks can consist of a few days of short day hikes while staying in luxurious accommodations or up to ten full days of walking during which travelers stay in simple inns each night. The trails pass through low lying mountains covered in mist and heather that are surprisingly rugged, and breathtakingly beautiful.
Many of those same mountain trails are also accessible by mountain bike, which make them a lure for an entirely different crowd. Road cyclists will find plenty to enjoy as well, albeit on the quaint roads that wind through the Scottish countryside. Kayaking and canoeing are also popular ways to explore the Highlands and the country's famous Lochs, while the beautiful rocky coastlines offer some of the best sea kayaking found anywhere on the planet. Mix in a rich history and culture, and you have all the best ingredients for your next adventure trip.

via gadling.com

Discovering the Highlands- Brora’s Golfing Paradise

2011-07-29T15:06:00.009+01:00

Brora golf course is a fine test of your golfswing. It's also a test of your resilience, stamina and concentration. Paradoxically its also the fairest golf course I ever played. Uniquely the better your golfswing the harder the course gets. That's unusual but entirely proper. At Brora everybody, locals and holiday makers alike, can enjoy their golf game regardless of age, gender, althleticism or ability.

Watch the short video slide show and you'll see a selection of sights from the course. They show the stunning scenery on view, including rainbows. (Brora gets more rainbows than anywhere I've ever been.)

The course is built on a narrow strip of sandy soil - like all the best courses - between the farming land and the sea. It goes out for 9 holes and then back for another 9. The turning point is the simply stunning par 3 Sea Hole. It looks gorgeous but turns into a frightening challenge with the wind from the left and the sea on the right.

Always the backdrop is the North Sea on one side and the heather and fern covered hills on the other.

Watch out for the dummy Owl beside one of the greens. Apparently he's there to frighten away the sea gulls (we should get one for our garden I'm sure).

Notice the electric fences around the putting greens - there to keep the animals off the prepared surfaces.

And look for the cows quietly grazing by the burn at the short par 3. Elsewhere on the course is a flock of sheep:-)

The course is built on Common Good Land. Local people have the right to graze their animals on it and despite numerous attempts by the golf club, refuse to stop doing it.

To those of us brought up on manufactured and manicured golf courses with cart paths and half way houses Brora seems to be another world. With land the way God laid it out, the wind, the sea, the animals and inevitable cow pats and sheep droppings, this is the antithesis of what we know.

But it's the way golf was born. A game of the people played on land useless for anything else where both money and score are meaningless. What counts is the way you play the game - the spirit of friends hitting a little white ball, finding it and then hitting it again in the home of golf you didn't know about.

And Tonight's Dram is Aberlour

2011-07-29T15:06:00.001+01:00

Being a snooty sort of guy, and living in the proper Highlands, I've tended to look down on the Speyside malt whiskies.

Glenmorangie is closest to where we live, Clynleish is just up the road, and Dalmore not 20 miles away.

In the circumstances who would want to drink something from Speyside?

Well it seems I'm picking up another Scottish trait - being careful with my coin.

Last week the local store had Aberlour on offer, so I bought 4 bottles. Well what's a principle when there's money involved?

To cut a short story even shorter, I'm part way through the 2nd bottle and

Surprise, surprise!

I'm really enjoying it.

Aberlour still isn't a Highland Malt, but at the right price it's very quaffable.

If you see it somewhere buy it and try it.

Slainte!

January on the 58th Parallel

2011-07-29T15:05:00.001+01:00

Today is the last Saturday in January and you'd be suprised at the weather. It's just perfect for golf - not a cloud in the sky, no wind and warm enough to not need a jacket. I've seen worse weather in June (unfortunately). That's life in Dornoch, on the 58th Parallel. There are worse places to live, for sure.

February Golf at Royal Dornoch

2011-07-29T15:04:00.001+01:00

Golf on the 58thParallel in February sounds unlikely and sometimes the weather can be daunting. But then there are days like today at Royal Dornoch when its breathtaking.

Brilliant sunshine and no wind make golf here a real pleasure even when its only 5 degrees.

Three Days in Scotland - Make the Most of Them

2011-07-29T15:02:00.001+01:00

With only three or four days in Scotland, visitors need some help getting the most out of their trip. The country offers an enticing choice of attractions in its heritage, its geography, its culture and its entertainment. From the wild Border Reiver country in the south, through the commercial and industrial Central Belt, the Cairngorm National Park and the wilderness in Sutherland, its 400 miles to John O Groats in the far north. From the oil capital of Europe, Aberdeen, to the Mull of Kintyre is a full days drive. In the west there's Skye and in the north the Orkneys and Shetland. Experiencing all of Scotland could take months, if not years. But with just three days in the country we have to limit our choices. We'll save the Highlands for another trip, and the Islands for yet another. In this visit we'll combine heritage with scenery, culture and fun with two cities and a day in the hills and lochs. Relaxed tourists could easily fill a week with this itinerary, whilst the more energetic might get through it in two days. The start and end points are only 40 miles apart, so it doesn't matter which way around we go.

Day One - Edinburgh History

Our first day combines heritage with a lot of fun and some culture in the capital city, Edinburgh. The tourist centre (with the usual unfortunate trappings) is the Royal Mile, within the original city walls and leading to the Castle. This place is always buzzing with action. It's the heart of Edinburgh's Old Town - an area of narrow winding streets, dark alleys, interesting boutiques and classy bistros. In the Old Town there's always a hint of Burke and Hare in the atmosphere, and especially those streets under the Bridges - North and South. Close by is Grassmarket. Full of bars and restaurants it's the area for relaxation, with a bit of fun. The area is just steeped in history.

Edinburgh New Town is entirely different. The retail centre of the city is Princes Street. Apart from the views of the Castle this could be any Main Street in the UK with all the major brands. Behind Princes Street is the real New Town. Elegant Georgian buildings, boutiques and restaurants, professional offices.

The city centre offers a wide choice of accommodation but we can highlight a few. Where Old Town meets New Town is the Balmoral Hotel - luxurious, elegant and expensive. At the other end of Princes Street is the Caledonian Hotel. This is one most often shown in films and TV programmes. Not in the Balmoral league, but comfortable, elegant and expensive. At the other end of the scale is the Premier Inn. Only a short walk from Grassmarket and both Old Town and New Town this hotel offers exceptional value. Don't be put off by the budget category. The rooms are perfectly comfortable, and the breakfast is as good as anywhere in Scotland. Another options is the Hilton Grosvenor. It's close to the Premier Inn, the rooms are better and the prices are reasonable for the location.

Quality dining at reasonable prices is available throughout the centre. Hadrian's Bistro at the Balmoral is good, if a little pricey. It's the place for up and coming professionals to be seen. A better option might be a stroll around the Old Town and Grassmarket. Find something you like the look of. There's no shortage of choice.

For visitors who enjoy a little culture with their sightseeing the National Gallery, Fruitmarket Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art offer alternatives to the shops and bars. Fans of Ian Rankin crime novels will be very familiar with the feel of Edinburgh.

Day 2 Mountains, Lochs and Islands

Day two takes us out into the country amongst the mountains, lochs and islands. It totals more than 6 hours driving but the experience is well worth the time and effort. Our route takes us past Stirling and Crianlarich, through the Trossachs and ultimately through Glencoe, infamous for the Massacre of Glencoe and snow closures in the winter.

This is proper mountain country, leading to Ben Nevis, Scotland's highest Munro and on down to Fort William, a major tourist centre for walkers and other outdoor types. Our route now reverses down the coast road to Oban, famous for fishing and islands and whisky. On the way we'll drive through some of the best scenery to be found, anywhere. Views of the islands we'll just want to stand and look at. This feels like we're living in a painting. Oban's a busy little town, and a good place for coffee, lunch or tea and wander around the harbour.

Next we're off to Glasgow. We've circled around, back to Crianlarich and it's time for Loch Lomond. We'll drive the length of the loch through more outstanding scenery and drop into Scotland's largest city, and other capital.

Day 3 - Glasgow - Culture

Very different to Edinburgh, Glasgow is modern, vibrant, exciting and fun. Recently distinguished as the Culture Capital of Europe, this town can justify claims to be the heart of the country. Museums, galleries, shops, restaurants, professional offices, conference centres, universities - Glasgow has the best of everything.

Once again there's no shortage of places to stay and to eat. The Premier Inn in George Square offers exceptional value for money and puts us right in the heart of the city centre - a short walk from almost everything, including outstanding architecture by Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Slightly further out, and close to Glasgow University, the Hilton Grosvenor offers a more comfortable but reasonably priced alternative.

Glasgow is renown for its restaurants. Just walk around George Square, Buchanan Street and West Nile Street. Find something you like the look of. Booking ahead is probably a good idea for the more recognised establishments, and especially for the highly recommended Ubiquitous Chip .

Visits to Glasgow are mostly about shopping and culture - particularly art and architecture. Buchanan Street is the retail centre of Scotland, Sauchiehall Street perhaps the most famous. The Buchanan Galleries is certainly the biggest and most popular Mall in the country. Be sure to take tea in the Willow Tea Rooms in Sauchiehall Street for the Rennie Mackintosh experience.

Done with shopping and eating? It time to get lots of culture at the Kelvingrove museum, Glasgow School of Art and any of the many Glasgow Galleries.

Here are the directions courtesy of Google Maps

Driving directions to Fort William, Highland, UK 1. 3 hours 2 mins A82 132 mi Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh UK 1.

Head north on North Bridge/A7 toward E Market St 449 ft 2.

Take the 1st left onto Market StGo through 1 roundabout 0.3 mi 3. Turn right onto The Mound/A8 0.2 mi 4.

Slight left onto Princes St 0.1 mi 5. At Hanover St, take the 1st exit ontoGeorge StGo through 2 roundabouts 0.4 mi 6.

Turn left onto Charlotte Square 0.1 mi 7. Turn right onto Shandwick Pl/A8Continue to follow A8 0.4 mi 8.

Turn left onto Torphichen St/A8 43 ft 9.

Take the 1st right onto Torphichen Pl/A8 305 ft 10.

Take the 1st right onto Morrison St/A8Continue to follow A8 Go through 1 roundabout 7.4 mi 11.

At Newbridge Roundabout, take the 4thexit onto the M9 ramp 0.4 mi 12. Merge onto M9 28.2 mi 13.

At junction 10, take the A84 exit to Stirling/Callander/Crianlarich/A85 0.3 mi 14.

At Craigforth Roundabout, take the 2ndexit onto A84 heading to Crianlarich/A85/Doune/Callander/Aberfoyle/A873 27.3 mi 15.

Continue straight onto A85 16.0 mi 16.

Continue onto A82 5.0 mi 17.

Slight right to stay on A82 (signs for Fort William)Go through 1 roundabout 45.5 mi 18.

At W End Roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto High St 0.2 mi 19.

Turn right onto Gordon Square 138 ft 20.

Turn right to stay on Gordon Square 33 ft 21. Continue onto Fassifern Rd 0.3 mi 22.

Slight left onto Parade Rd 69 ft 23.

Turn left to stay on Parade Rd 364 ft 24.

Fort William, Highland UK

Driving directions to Oban, Argyll and Bute, UK 1. 1 hour 8 mins A82 and A828 44.4 mi Fort William, Highland UK 1.

Head southeast on Bank St towardParade Rd 243 ft 2.

Take the 1st left onto Parade Rd 433 ft 3. Continue onto Fassifern Rd 420 ft 4.

Turn right toward Belford Rd/A82 79 ft 5.

Turn left onto Belford Rd/A82Continue to follow A82 Go through 2 roundabouts 13.2 mi 6.

At the roundabout, take the 1st exit ontoA828 heading to Oban/A85 108 ft 7.

Turn left to stay on A828 16.5 mi 8.

At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit and stay on A828Go through 1 roundabout 9.5 mi 9.

Turn left onto A85 4.3 mi 10.

At the roundabout, take the 1st exit ontoDunollie Rd/A85Continue to follow A85 0.5 mi 11.

At the roundabout, take the 1st exit ontoArgyll Square/A816Continue to follow A816 0.2 mi Oban, Argyll and Bute UK

Driving directions to Glasgow, Glasgow City, UK 1. 2 hours 16 mins A85 and A82 97.0 mi Oban, Argyll and Bute UK 1.

Head north on Soroba Rd/A816 towardCombie StContinue to follow A816 0.2 mi 2.

At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit ontoAird's Pl/A85Continue to follow A85 0.3 mi 3.

Turn right onto Corran Esplanade/A85 0.3 mi 4.

At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit ontoA85Go through 1 roundabout 35.2 mi 5.

Turn right onto A82 5.0 mi 6. Turn right to stay on A82 (signs forGlasgow) 16.4 mi 7.

Turn left to stay on A82 (signs forGlasgow)Go through 5 roundabouts 24.7 mi 8.

Take the exit onto A898 2.0 mi 9. Continue onto M898 Motorway 0.5 mi 10.

Keep left at the fork, follow signs for M8/Paisley and merge onto M8 11.4 mi 11.

Take the exit toward A198/Clydebank/Anderston 0.1 mi 12.

Keep right at the fork to continue towardPitt St 0.3 mi 13.

Turn left onto Pitt St 0.1 mi 14.

Turn right onto W George St 302 ft 15.

Take the 2nd left onto Blythswood Square 269 ft 16.

Continue onto Douglas St 0.1 mi 17.

Turn right onto Sauchiehall St 305 ft 18.

Turn left onto Rose St 269 ft 19.

Take the 1st right onto Renfrew St 0.2 mi Glasgow, Glasgow City UK

Perfect Golf Landscape

2011-07-29T07:13:00.001+01:00

This is the view over Royal Dornoch golf course taken from the high point at the 7th tee.

On the left is the North Sea. The links land you can see is the lowest part of the course - 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th holes.

Shame the weather isn't always like this.

Wonder What Labour Will Make of This

2011-07-15T05:17:00.001+01:00

Italy Senate passes tough budget

Brown busted Britain by buying loyalty from benefit dependants and public sector jobsworths.

Of course he didn't have the money so he borrowed it on the nation's credit card.

Now we have big debt plus a public sector delivering less for more plus an illiterate work force.

We also have an ageing population which worked hard and saved for retirement dropping into welfare dependency because Brown stole have their savings and let his banker friends steal the rest.

Brown's Britain is more of a basket case than Italy because the Italians can read the writing on the wall.

Thanks to the self serving education establishment and political apologists Britain can't even read anymore.

2011-07-15T04:01:00.001+01:00

5 Ways to Forecast Sales – Which One is Yours?

Labour Duplicity in Spades

2011-06-10T13:44:00.001+01:00

Balls hits back over leaked memos

Hopefully the country will never trust the Labour party again - incompetent,self serving and dangerous..

Thanks to Brown and his boys Balls and Miliband our public sector remains unreformed we're awash work immigrants and broke.

No Wonder We've Such a Big Problem

2011-06-10T07:30:00.001+01:00

Instead of running the country these Labour politicians were chasing their own ambitions and using our credit card to pay for bribes to the public sector and benefits bandits.

It's a disgrace.

BBC News UK (BBCNews_UK): #BBCNEWS Memos reveal moves to oust Blair: Fresh evidence has emerged of how Gordon Brown and his supporte... http://tinyurl.com/3kkml44 http://twitter.com/BBCNews_UK/status/79043689699217408 (Sent via Seesmic http://www.seesmic.com)

Scottish Independence A Reality

2011-06-10T05:41:00.001+01:00

The Union fights back

Alex Salmond is developing a powerful argument, mostly based on mistakes made by Gordon Brown.

What joy.

What they do with our money

2011-06-09T07:29:00.001+01:00

Steve Reeves (stevensreeves): Lord Mayor Splashes £37,000 On A Party http://bit.ly/kPXC2p http://twitter.com/stevensreeves/status/78684324433629185 (Sent via Seesmic http://www.seesmic.com)

Whats the weather like

2011-06-09T07:11:00.001+01:00

Hard to know because it keeps changing.

At times its absolutely perfect and others it's just horrible

Ben Wyvis

2007-09-24T15:41:00.000+01:00

Looking west from near the summit, Ben Wyvis views.

This is a spectacular place!

Of course getting there isn't a lot of fun!

It starts with an easy amble through a forest but you just know it's going to get unpleasant.

Another gorgeous day?

2007-09-24T09:17:00.000+01:00

This is the sun setting in the west. Was this another gorgeous day? To be honest I can't remember. Summer only happened this year in April, which isn't typical.

The rest of the summer - May, June, July and August - has been horrible. Low grey skies, wind and rain. We keep hoping for an Indian Summer but there's no sign of it yet.

The Hills of Sutherland

2007-09-23T13:23:00.001+01:00

There really isn't anything quite like walking the hills of Sutherland. It's not the height, it's the light. It's the quiet and the isolation.

This picture is just one of the views, looking north west from Ben Klibreck. They almost make the walk worthwhile.

Don't listen to the guys who suggest this is a stroll. Don't follow the route suggested by them. Start at the Crask Inn and be prepared to turn round at any time.

Is Dornoch Paradise?

2007-09-23T12:43:00.000+01:00

Lots of people think so. One of the finest, and fun, golf courses in the world sits between the town and 5 miles of golden sand beach. There's no pollution, no crime and virtually no traffic. The Gulf Stream keeps the climate moderate. The surrounding scenery is breathtaking. The sky is bigger than you can imagine. The people are relaxed, warm and friendly - mostly.

The center of town is dominated by the cathedral, the origins of which date back to the 13th century. This is the church Madonna chose for her baby's christening. Opposite is the Bishops Palace, the old jail (now a place for tourists to spend their money) and the Courthouse where local miscreants are called to account for their wrong doings.

Dornoch sits on the edge of Sutherland, recognised as the largest wilderness in Europe, and infamous as the land taken from the people by an Englishman in the Highland Clearances. Walking in the hills of Sutherland is an experience everybody should sample.