Alan Simpson

1 month ago | heraldscotland.com | Alan Simpson

Union Street in Aberdeen from the Castlegate (Image: NQ) THE first time I visited New Orleans, I was struck by the fact that many of the car registration plates had the phrase “Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler” on them. In fact, the phrase was pretty much everywhere and was explained as being a translation of “let the good times roll” into Louisiana French Creole.

1 month ago | heraldscotland.com | Alan Simpson

River Oykel is home to the freshwater pearl mussel (Image: NQ) IF you ask anyone whether or not they agree with clean, green energy being generated by onshore windfarms, the vast majority would overwhelmingly support it. What’s not to like after all and given Scotland’s capricious weather caused by being stuck in the North Atlantic then wind should certainly not be in short supply.

2 months ago | heraldscotland.com | Alan Simpson

Passengers and Scotrail staff at Hairmyres Station, East Kilbride. (Image: Robert Perry) ANYONE who has had the misfortune to drive into East Kilbride, Eaglesham and other parts of the Glasgow south hinterland of late will have noticed something slightly odd. When I say slightly odd, what I mean to say is extremely infuriating and I only use that term because it is bad patter to swear in a column.

2 months ago | heraldscotland.com | Alan Simpson

MV Alfred will cost an extra £3m (Image: NQ) IT is generally accepted that renting a home in the long-term does not make much financial sense. Years of expensive monthly payments and there is no bonus at the end of owning the home which can be sold on at a hefty profit. It can be viewed as just throwing good money after bad and is one reason why folk in the UK are seemingly obsessed with getting on the property ladder.

2 months ago | heraldscotland.com | Alan Simpson

Ardrossan harbour with Arran ferry (Image: Save Ardrossan Harbour) TO run a successful ferry service, four key elements are required - a big ship, a port at both ends and a crew to steer the boat and serve the passengers. It is the same the world over and seems to work well with mercifully few major mishaps. But not, it appears, in Scotland despite the entire network being fully publicly owned.