Scotland’s “disease of despair” and the “rat park” experiment
Edinburgh August 6, 2021 Number 7 in my newsletters on Scottish current affairs – sign up to receive them by email here Scotland’s drug death numbers for 2020 were shocking – much…
Should You Judge a Cover by the Book?
A deep dive into why the aesthetics of a book cover shape our reading experience — and whether that judgement is fair.
Read More Buy NowIs the UK Government strategically incompetent – thus undermining the notion of rational governance?
Edinburgh August 4 This is the number 6 of my newsletters on Scottish current affairs – sign up to receive them by email here I took part in a You…
Letter from Scotland #5 – movie ‘Limbo’ tells a poignant story of refugees on a Scottish island
Went to the cinema to see the movie ‘Limbo’ tonight – it’s about a refugee who has been put on a mythic Scottish island to await the result of his…
Letter from Scotland #4 Who handles the complaints about the complaints secretary?
There is a Latin saying “Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?” – but who will guard the guards? The same could be asked about the complaints about the SNP’s new complaints secretary….
Letter from Scotland #3 – ten ways Brexit is affecting Scotland’s food supply
A hard Brexit combined with a global pandemic is affecting the food supply in Scotland. There are obvious issues with the range and quality of produce available in many shops. …
Brexit-related food crisis deepens as shelves empty and price increases loom
First published in the Sunday National, August 1 2021 Supermarket staff are being told to “overface” – move sparse goods to the front of shelves, some customers are becoming upset…
A letter from Scotland#2 – Craig Murray Goes to Jail
This is the second of my newsletters on Scottish current affairs – sign up to receive them by email here Edinburgh, Saturday, July 31 The big story in Scotland today…
A letter from Scotland #1 Settled status – ashamed of Britain
This is the first of my newsletters on Scottish current affairs – sign up to receive them by email here Edinburgh, Friday, July 30 Around our kitchen table in Edinburgh…
Brexit not ‘pingdemic’ affecting Scotland’s food supply, say independent retailers
First published in the Sunday National, July 24, 2021 Pitlochry co-op at the weekend Interruptions to the food supply to Scottish shops and restaurants are largely due to Brexit…
Highlands and Islands Prepares for Busiest Weeks of the Year
Photo Rob Bruce A slightly shorter version of this piece appeared in the Daily Telegraph on July 23, 2021
Yes, We Have No Tomatoes – Brexit Empties Supermarket Shelves
First published in the Sunday National, July 18, 2021 People across Scotland are noticing gaps in the fruit and vegetable displays at supermarkets and a decline in quality with some…
Oranges in Edinburgh? Not a sign of climate change – it is a boom in fake blooms
Oranges growing all over the centre of Edinburgh? No it is not a sign of climate change – the city is sporting an overgrowth of fake flowers and foliage. The…
How Brexit is breaking the tourism industry in the Highlands
First published in the National on Sunday, June 27, 2021 Ewan Brown and his support runner descending Beinn Eighe in the Celtman race A DIFFERENT crowd of tourists and seasonal…
Saltire in the sky – Edinburgh on the eve of a historic election
Photo – Rob Bruce The row of turreted tents for the international press pack that has appeared on the green sward outside Holyrood looks a little like the set…
Empty Holiday Homes Blight A Highland Beauty Spot – It’s an Election Issue
A dozen white-painted cottages strung along the seafront harbour in the hamlet of Diabaig look out on a postcard-perfect West Highland vista – but there are few inhabitants to enjoy…
As Doors Reopen in Glasgow’s City Centre, Will an Ambitious Plan for the Area be Realised?
“I have walked down both Las Ramblas in the sunshine and Sauchiehall Street in the rain – and I prefer the latter” I read this quote in an article –…
Child “Imagineers” Should Be Consulted Over George Square Redesign, Experts Say – first published in the National, April 2021
The Rings fountain in Boston – pic Rob Bruce The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child which was recently incorporated into Scots law gives children a right to…
Reopening after a tough year, the Gandolfi’s Seumas MacInnes looks forward to exciting times for Glasgow’s CIty Centre – first published in the National, April 2021
Seumas MacInnes who has run the Cafe Gandolfi at the heart of Glasgow’s Merchant City for 40 years is getting ready to reopen the iconic restaurant on April 26…
Sans Culottes in Locked-Down France – November 2020
I am WFF right now – Working From France. Coming over here for the last chunk of 2020 was a personal Brexit protest. Working and living here has always been…
Was Tourism Management in the Highlands This Summer a “Shit Show”?
The loch was – we wild swimmers don’t use the ‘C’ word – so let’s call it invigorating. I got out of the water to change on the pebbly shore…