The McNanny State: it’s time to challenge it

SINCE the Scottish Parliamentcame into being in 1999 it has passed over 300 bills that have been given royal assent and are now the law of the land. Notably they include a bill to ban ...

The Mummy Diaries: Two babies - Week 3

THE REALITY of having two babies is now starting to sink in! Jamie is now starting to realise that baby Lily is here to stay. This means that whenever his Daddy or I lift or ...

The Mummy Diaries: Two babies - Week 2

HELP, help, help!! Thank God for Grandparents is all I’ll say. How on earth anyone manages a newborn baby and a toddler after a C-section is beyond me. 

The newborn is a ...

Aargh! Why the joys of travelling have left me

I HAD TO go to Bristol the other day. Well, not had to go, wanted to go. My elder daughter works there and needs to buy a car for commuting in the next month or so.  She had ...

The Mummy Diaries: Two babies - Week 1

SHE'S HERE at last! What a week it has been. A planned C-Section? There’s no such thing. So much for the relaxing and calm experience it was to be. All I can say is it ...

Book Review – Flight of Evil: A North British Intrigue

THE SCOTTISH academic Professor Tom Gallagher has written an entertaining novel that nevertheless contains a serious message, warning of the dangers of political extremism. 

Set in the near future Flight of Evil describes a ...

Brexit betrayal – a week we shall never forget

A personal view from Ivor Tiefenbrun MBE

The Mummy Diaries: pregnancy week 38

WELL IT'S nearly D Day! I’ve spent the week trying to keep myself relaxed and chilled as much as possible for the fear of going into labour early. Jamie’s Granny and Gramps don’t arrive until ...

The Mummy Diaries: pregnancy week 37

“I LOVE a good heatwave!” said NO pregnant women - EVER!

Under ‘normal’ circumstances, this fantastic spell of warm weather would be welcomed with open arms. I’d be taking Jamie walks and ...

Raise a pint of your own to beat minimum unit pricing

MINIMUM UNIT PRICING has threatened to increase the price of cheap wholesome booze for many years now. I can't think of a better response than to defiantly brew our own beer, especially given Edinburgh's fine ...

The Mummy Diaries: pregnancy week 36

IT’S BEEN a week of ranting and raving. Definitely more ups than downs but with my pregnancy nearing the end, it’s getting tougher mentally and physically, then add a toddler into the mix and what ...

Scottish Government advisers can be both wrong and create mischief

SCOTLAND has awaited with bated breath for the delayed publication of the report of the SNP’s Growth Commission – a body tasked with finding some way of improving our wee nation’s lacklustre economic performance. One ...